Apple TV+‘sFoundationis the first attempt to adapt Isaac Asimov’s iconic literary space opera into live-action, and the process has only been made possible by some very notable changes to the source material. Of all theFoundationbook changesso far, one stands out above the rest as pivotal in the adaptation process. Without this alteration,Apple TV+’s sprawling sci-fi saga would likely have been far less successfulas well as more difficult to follow. WithFoundationseason 3 on the way, the change will also continue to influence the show’s future.
Foundationis a standout project amongApple TV+’s sci-fi shows. The tale being told required a huge amount of ambition in order for it to be even considered to be adapted from Asimov’s books. Thankfully, the trust in the process has paid off. Now,Apple TV+ hosts one of the most impressive space operas in recent times- not only from a visual perspective, but also in terms of its storyline and general creativity. It has come together so seamlessly that it would be easy to mistakeFoundationas a direct translation from book to screen. However, that isn’t the case.
Foundation Mixing Up The Books And The Timeline Made It Work As A TV Show
Apple TV+’s changes avoid SO much waiting around for the story to progress
Asimov never shied away from a challenge when writing theFoundationbooks. Its generational narrative is centuries long, so he had a huge amount of lore to account for when penning his various sequels and prequels. The legendary sci-fi writer did an incredible job in this respect, but the end result would have felt just a little too chaotic and difficult to follow in the context of a TV show. So,Apple TV+ decided early on in the process that Asimov’sFoundationtimeline wouldn’t be sacrosanct. Instead, events have been much more fluid compared to the source material.
Compelling Foundation Theory Reveals Another Sci-Fi Apple TV+ Project Is A Prequel To The Isaac Asimov Space Opera
Apple TV+’s Foundation tells a story that spans a huge period of time, potentially making it possible to fold another movie into the main canon.
That being said, the majority of the show’s storylines are still at least based on the original novels. The main difference is the different lengths of time that separate the various twists. The jumping-on point is the same, with Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) establishing his first Foundation for the very same reason as his literary counterpart. After that, all bets are off when trying to predict what big events from the books will pop up in the adaptation. It may seem extreme, but it has ultimately contributed to the show functioning so well as a televised space opera.
Some parts of what the author thought wouldn’t be possible for 50,000 years are now very easy to accomplish in the 21st century, so it wouldn’t have made sense to keep all of Asimov’s outdated predictions intact.
Interestingly,Foundation’s setting hasn’t budged from the incredibly distant future. Part of the reason for this is likely due to what the show’s writers think such a period in human history would be like compared to what Asimov pictured in his time. Seeing as the first book was published in 1951, this isn’t a huge surprise. Some parts of what the author thought wouldn’t be possible for 50,000 years are now very easy to accomplish in the 21st century, so it wouldn’t have made sense to keep all of Asimov’s outdated predictions intact.
A Proper Foundation Adaptation Fully Faithful To The Books Would Never Work
Asimov’s brilliant source material is a little too unfocused to function as a TV show
Passionate fans of the book series may have been upset or even a little annoyed about Apple TV+‘sFoundationoverhaul. Unfortunately,the changes are just something that Asimov’s avid followers have had to live with. To include every little detail from the novels in the adaptation would have taken forever, and parts of the source material are so dated that it would have distracted from the show’s glossy aesthetic and slick approach to storytelling. Plus, the pacing of the original version of the story becomes glacial at points, and TV audiences aren’t always as forgiving as readers.
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Foundation and Empire
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Foundation and Earth
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Forward the Foundation
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Apple TV+ has started with something Asimov himself never had - a finished series. AlthoughAsimov’sFoundationbooks don’t really have a proper ending, it’s at least established that there won’t be any new additions to the series to account for. So, the adaptation has been able to delve deep into the book canon and single out the various aspects that are the most appealing and combine them with other promising elements. This approach has resulted in a far more cohesive TV saga than would have existed if the adaptation had restricted itself to only faithful decisions.
Some Of The Best Things About Apple TV+’s Foundation Weren’t In The Books
Foundation’s Clone Dynasty is among the show’s best original concepts
There’s no denying the fact thatIsaac Asimov left behind a canonically denseFoundationseries filled with possibilities. However, Apple TV+ clearly found some of it unusable or perhaps a little lacking when it came to the new version of the story. As such, the writers deemed it necessary to augment the novels’ lore with some additions of their own. Thankfully, they haven’t been tasteless or unnecessary introductions to the sci-fi universe, as they’ve blended in perfectly with the pre-established elements so well that it’s as though they’ve always belonged in the same story.
Hari Seldon dies at roughly the same point in the books and the show, but Jared Harris’ iteration is resurrected in the adaptation and the actor goes on to actually play two versions of the pivotal figure.
For example, althoughCleon I and Cleon II are briefly mentioned in the source material, they are an incredibly small part of the larger narrative - and they’re also not clones.Apple TV+’s concept ofFoundation’s clone dynastyis an original concept built on a small grain of Asimov’s original canon, and it’s one of the most fascinating aspects of the show. In addition, Hari Seldon dies at roughly the same point in the books and the show, but Jared Harris' iteration is resurrected in the adaptation and the actor goes on to actually play two versions of the pivotal figure.
Foundation Season 3 Will Likely Continue The Show’s Major Changes To The Books
It wouldn’t make sense for Apple TV+ to change the formula now
By theend ofFoundationseason 2, the source material has been altered so extensively that it would be impossible to alter course and start keeping a closer eye on the books. Plus, it probably wouldn’t make any sense if that happened. Althoughthe show still heavily addresses Asimov’s work, it has taken on a life of its own. The adaptation’s success proves that this was always the correct decision, soFoundationseason 3 would be well within its rights to continue along its current trajectory of deviations from and additions to the original saga.
Foundation’s 8 Best Scenes So Far, Ranked
Thanks to its captivating story and stunning visual effects, Foundation has become a hallmark of recent sci-fi TV shows through its best scenes.
Thankfully, the books will always be there for the original fan base to read if they find themselves not enjoying Apple TV+’s version. Having said that, they’d be missing out if they avoided the adaptation just for its changes to Asimov’s work. The Apple TV+ iteration of the space opera does incredibly well to both honor the source material while also keeping things fresh with unexpected plot twists and using established characters in new and refreshing ways. IfFoundationseason 3 were to stop all this, it would be weaker as a result.
