MGM+ has revealed the release date of its new original series The Institute. Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, the series has been slated to drop on July 13, 2025, on MGM+. Directed by Jack Bender ("From") and written by Benjamin Cavell ("Justified", "The Stand"), who are also the show’s executive producers alongside MGM+ and Stephen King himself, the eight-episode series follows the story of Luke Ellis, a teen genius, who is kidnapped and finds himself at The Institute, a facility full of children possessing unusual abilities. In the nearby town, former police officer Tim Jamieson looks to start a new life, but his peace doesn’t stay long, as his life intertwines with Ellis.
According to Bender, “This show is about the power of youth coming together to rectify the world that all of us adults have screwed up a little bit.” Bender is quite familiar with King’s works; he had previously directed several episodes of Under the Dome for CBS, as well as the miniseries Mr Mercedes for the former Audience Network, both of which were based on King’s stories.
Nineteen-year-old Joe Freeman (son of Martin Freeman) stars as Luke Ellis, a teenager with unusual abilities, kidnapped by the Institute, in his first ever major role. Ben Barnes, known for his notable roles such as Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and Voyage of the Dawn Treader and the Darkling in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone, will star as the haunted policeman Tim Jamieson, who finds himself intertwined with Luke Ellis. Emmy award winner Mary-Louise Parker plays Ms. Sigsby, the woman who runs the Institute.
Additional cast members include Simone Miller, Jason Diaz, Julian Richings, Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway, Robert Joy, Viggo Hanvelt, Arlen So, Birva Pandya, Dan Beirne, Martin Roach, and Jane Luk.
While the first series covers the book, there are plans to continue. According to Cavell, “We certainly intend to tell much more story…. if there's an appetite for it, we will absolutely continue this story because these characters, these actors, this crew... it all feels too good to leave behind.”
