Since its debut in 2019, Apple TV+ has quietly emerged as a go-to platform for science fiction enthusiasts. Among its numerous hits in the genre, Foundation stands out as possibly the most impressive, skillfully adapting the intricate world of Isaac Asimov’s novels into visually stunning and engaging narratives. The third season of Foundation is set to premiere this week, introducing fans of the books to legendary figures such as The Mule (played by Pilou Asbæk), Magnifico Giganticus (portrayed by Tómas Lemarquis), and the newly married couple Bayta (Synnøve Karlsen) and Toran Mallow (Cody Fern). Curious about the release date for Foundation Season 3?
The series Foundation is situated in a far-off future in which a “genetic empire” governs the galaxy. Rulers consist of three generations of Cleon clones—Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton), Brother Day (Lee Pace), and Brother Dusk (Terrence Mann)—who maintain their dominion across the galaxy with the aid of the android Demerzel (Laura Birn). However, in Season 1, they are challenged by Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), a gifted mathematician who develops “psychohistory,” a method to foresee apocalyptic futures. Seldon, along with his apprentice Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell), seeks permission to establish the Foundation, an institution dedicated to preserving human wisdom in the face of the approaching dark ages.
Every season of Foundation spans several centuries to explore how Gaal and her supporters contend with emerging “crises” threatening humanity. In the third season, the threat takes the form of The Mule, a marauder capable of manipulating individuals into carrying out his destructive orders. What strategies will Gaal and her companions employ to tackle this challenge?
Here’s everything you need to know to jump into Season 3 of Foundation on Apple TV+…
When Does Foundation Season 3 Come Out? Foundation Season 3 Release Date:
Foundation Season 3 officially premieres tomorrow, Friday, July 11, 2025.
However, if we’re applying our psychohistory here, we’d like to predict that the show might be streaming on Apple TV+ before then…
What Time Does Foundation Season 3 Episode 1 Come Out on Apple TV+?
Foundation Season 3 Episode 1 “A Song For the End of Everything” will officially be on Apple TV+ at 3 AM ET (or 12 AM PT) on Friday, July 11.
That said, our calculations suggest that Foundation Season 3 could premiere on Apple TV+ as early as 9 PM ET on Tuesday, June 17. Our equation is based on the precedent that Apple often releases their originals the night before they are scheduled to drop.
How Many Episodes Are In Foundation Season 3?
There are ten episodes in total in Foundation Season 3, with new episodes coming out weekly on Fridays from now until September 12.
Foundation Season 3 Episode Guide: When Do New Episodes Of Foundation Premiere?
Don’t want to miss a single new episode of Foundation? Here’s your guide to when each and every episode of Foundation Season 3 comes out on Apple TV+:
- Season 2 Episode 1 “A Song for the End of Everything”: Friday, July 11
- Season 2 Episode 2 “Shadows in the Math”: Friday, July 18
- Season 2 Episode 3 “When a Book Finds You”: Friday, July 25
- Season 2 Episode 4 “The Stress of Her Regard”: Friday, August 1
- Season 2 Episode 5 “Where Tyrants Spend Eternity”: Friday, August 8
- Season 2 Episode 6 “The Shape of Time”: Friday, August 15
- Season 2 Episode 7 “Foundation’s End”: Friday, August 22
- Season 2 Episode 8 “Skin in the Game”: Friday, August 29
- Season 2 Episode 9 “The Paths That Choose Us”: Friday, September 5
- Season 2 Episode 10: Friday, September 12
How to Watch Foundation:
Want to get hip to one of the best science fictions shows on television? Andor left you yearning for more high brow genre entertainment? Then it’s the perfect time to jump into Foundation. Because Foundation is an Apple TV+ original, the only place you can watch it is on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+ comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers and has just one ad-free streaming plan available for $9.99/month.
Can’t remember what happened in Foundation Season 2? It’s cool. A lot happened. The basic gist of what you need to remember is that Gaal and the flesh and bone Hari copy succeeded in launching the Second Foundation on Ignis. Salvor Hardin tragically died in the process, but in doing so, proved the future was mutable. Members of the Second Foundation have enhanced psychic abilities, making them “mentallics.”
Throughout Foundation Season 2, Gaal had nightmares of a future where she would be attacked by another powerful psychic called the “Mule.” In preparation for this future crisis, Gaal and Hari go into cryo sleep, waking up every so often to keep tabs on the Second Foundation.
Elsewhere, we learn the twisted backstory to how the original Cleon I discovered Demerzel and reprogrammed her to obey his genetic dynasty. However, we also learned that the genetic dynasty is actually quite flawed, with each subsequent generation straying further from the original Cleon. This means that Demerzel is actually in charge. Hari has also gifted her a copy of the Prime Radiant.
The present-day Brother Day leads a battle to totally destroy the Foundation homeworld of Terminus, but it’s revealed that the Vault is able to save many of the residents, including Brother Constant, who is pregnant with Hober Mallow’s baby. A new Foundation will be built.
Foundation Season 3 Cast Guide:
One of the most fun things about Foundation is that by the nature of its conceit — a genetic empire ruled by clones, a vault that secures the holographic essence of Hari Seldon, cryosleep — actors can return to play the same or different characters over the show’s centuries-long run. Foundation Season 3 features a mix of familiar faces and newcomers whom you might recognize from Game of Thrones, CODA, Miss Austen, and American Horror Story. Here’s who’s who in the Foundation Season 3 cast:
- Jared Harris as Hari Seldon
- Lee Pace as Brother Day
- Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick
- Laura Birn as Demerzel
- Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk
- Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn
- Alexander Siddig as Dr. Ebling Mis
- Troy Kotsur as Preem Palver
- Pilou Asbæk as The Mule
- Cherry Jones as Foundation Ambassador Quent
- Synnøve Karlsen as Bayta Mallow
- Cody Fern as Toran Mallow
- Brandon P. Bell as Han Pritcher
- Tómas Lemarquis as Magnifco Giganticus
- Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing as Song
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