Exclusive: The Institute cast interviews with Ben Barnes & Joe Freeman, and execs Jack Bender, Benjamin Cavell
Premiering July 13, 2025 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on MGM+ is ‘The Institute,’ the upcoming thriller series based on the 2019 Stephen King novel. The first two episodes will be released on that date, with a single episode following weekly until the finale on August 24. It will be available on the MGM+ Roku Premium Channel and Philo
From executive producers Stephen King and Jack Bender (FROM), “The Institute” follows the story of teen genius Luke Ellis (Freeman), who is kidnapped and awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did and who are all possessed of unusual abilities. In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson (Barnes) has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won’t last, as his story and Luke’s are destined to collide.
The cast includes Mary-Louise Parker (Ms. Sigsby), Ben Barnes (Tim Jamieson), Joe Freeman (Luke Ellis), Simone Miller (Kalisha), Fionn Laird (Nick), Hannah Galway (Wendy), Julian Richings (Stackhouse), Robert Joy (Dr. Hendricks), and Martin Roach (Chief Ashworth).
Freeman’s Luke is a 14-year-old genius who happens also to be mildly telekenetic, Luke finds himself
snatched from his bedroom and plunged into the depths of The Institute, a shadowy organization that has been kidnapping children with psychic ability and using them for some unknown purpose. The Institute doesn’t care at all about Luke’s intellect (or, for that matter, his gentle kindness and good humor), but it will be those qualities that help him survive.
Barnes’ Tim Jamieson is a disillusioned ex-cop who takes a job as the night knocker in a small town, withdrawing from the world until Luke’s plight reignites him and gives him something to believe in.
Barnes starred as General Kirigan in Netflix’s series Shadow and Bone. He also guest starred on two Netflix anthology series, Black Mirror and Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.
Bender has extensive experience in King series adaptations, having executive produced CBS’ Under The Dome; Audience’s Mr. Mercedes, whose Season 1 cast included Parker; and HBO’s The Outsider. At MGM+, he is also director/executive producer on hit horror series From, which counts King among its fans.
Cavell is coming off adapting King’s novel The Stand into the 2020 Paramount+ miniseries of the same name.
Blackfilmandtv.com's Wilson Morales talks to Ben Barnes & Joe Freeman, and execs Jack Bender, Benjamin Cavell on MGM+ series The Institute
