Apple is developing a drama series from David S. Goyer titled “Foundation,” based on writer and professor Isaac Asimov’s book series, the company announced Tuesday.
The show will be written and executive produced by Goyer and Josh Friedman, each of whom will serve as the series’ showrunners. Skydance Television is producing “Foundation” with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross also serving as executive producers.
Based on Asimov’s novel series of the same name, “Foundation” is set far in the future about humans scattered across distant planets all under the rule of the Galactic Empire. Hari Seldon, a mathematician known for developing the science psychohistory, envisions a looming dark age and the fall of the Galactic Empire. So he gathers together the greatest scientific minds to form the “Foundation” and lead the Galactic Empire into the future, only to be at the mercy of rising warlords.
The “Foundation” series started as a collection of short stories published in Astounding Magazine in 1942, then became a book trilogy in 1951. Asimov later added to the series in subsequent sequels and prequels with the first installment arriving in 1982.
Asimov’s work has been adapted into film previously, including “I, Robot” and “Bicentennial Man.” “Foundation” was previously sought after for a film series, and in 2016, Jonathan Nolan was developing a “Foundation” series for HBO and Warner Bros. TV.
Goyer, who recently produced “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” is currently writing the Green Lantern Corps movie with Justin Rhodes. Friedman, who created the “Terminator” series “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” was recruited by James Cameron to work on the screenplay for “Avatar 2.”