Rupert Sanders will direct the pilot episode of ‘Foundation’, the new Apple TV+ series based on the books of Isaac Asimov. This news comes on the heels of the reveal that Lee Pace and Jared Harris are starring. David S. Goyer, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Marcy Ross, and Robyn Asimov are executive producing. Josh Friedman had been attached as showrunner, but departed in April, leaving Goyer to replace him.
This 10-episode series from Skydance Television chronicles the thousand-year saga of The Foundation, a band of exiles who discover that the only way to save the Galactic Empire from destruction is to defy it.
Harris portrays Hari Seldon, “a mathematical genius who predicts the demise of the empire.” Pace will play Brother Day “the current Emperor of the Galaxy.”
Sanders has only directed two films, ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ and ‘Ghost in the Shell’. The first was a moderate hit, while the second was sunk after accusations of whitewashing when Scarlett Johansson was cast in the lead, when some felt the part should go to an Asian or Asian American actor. It would appear that Sanders didn’t quite learn his lesson, as he also cast Johansson to play real-life trans crime boss Dante “Tex” Gill in his next movie, ‘Rub & Tug’. After outcry, Johansson stepped down, but it looks as though Sanders still plans to make the movie.
But based on his past works, Sanders is a fan of fantasy and sci-fi, so that should suit ‘Foundation’ well. Sanders is a self-professed fan of Asimov’s and is reportedly already familiar with the ‘Foundation’ books. He has also been looking to expanding into television directing but has been waiting for the right project.
Production on this series has not begun yet, so it is unclear when it will be made available on Apple TV+.
Source: Deadline
