Foundation listeners explain why conversion to big books is so slow to start

Adaptations of large, complex books tend to be slow to start with – and that’s usually because there’s a lot to explain. it was true game of Thrones And rings of powerand it was especially true foundation on Apple TV Plus, which took the novels of Isaac Asimov and turned them into prestige television. With unusual concepts like psychohistory (a type of math that can predict the future) and genetic dynasty (a never-ending line of clone emperors ruling the galaxy), the first few episodes of season 1 boggle with exposition Were.

Listener David S. according to Goyer foundation, There was really no way to avoid him. He explained, “I felt like the first three episodes of Season 1 were too heavy, but – believe me – we worked ourselves up a sweat trying to find a way around it.” “We just made a decision, screw it, we have to explain this thing and hope the audience is still around.” However, he believes that this may be a necessary evil of such adaptations. “A lot of worthwhile shows that I love took a while to get started,” says Goyer. “Maybe that’s all you have to do when you’re doing a big, ambitious, innovative show.”

But with Season 2, which premieres July 14, Goyer says the team didn’t have the same problems. “I felt as if this huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders. We were free from all this expositional pipe-laying.

This season aims to be more accessible. “I was determined to make Season 2 more accessible and broaden the audience,” says Goyer. That meant exploring the inner lives of characters like Harrie Seldon, adding more action (the first episode featured a excellent fight sequence included), and even things like some sex and — gasp — humor. “I wanted to introduce more levity,” explains Goyer. “We only had a few scenes in season 1 with a little bit of sarcastic humor, and people were nervous about that. But I thought it was something that Asimov himself did in his writing.

what the goal is not to change foundation He explains, but to present it in a way that makes it easy for new audiences to engage.

“I think there was a belief among some foundation It was really beautiful but it was very cerebral,” Goyer explains. “And hopefully it continues to be cerebral. But I was determined to say, ‘What are the scenes that people wouldn’t expect foundation session 1? And does he have any place in this story?’ We didn’t do them just to be redundant. But I thought, ‘Why not?’ We’re telling a story about humans and humans are messy – so let’s get messy.

Of course, it’s still a complicated show, one that goes on for many years. Season 2 takes place a century after the first season – with a time jump, various warring factions, and all the other complications inherent in a story like this. Goyer and his team used a variety of tools to stay on track, from show bibles and flowcharts to copious Post-it notes. But the complexity is further increased due to the filming process. Episodes are not filmed in sequence, and most of the time, two units are shooting scenes simultaneously. “It’s a logistical challenge,” says Goyer.

He says this trick doesn’t let the actors know too much – even if they really wanted to. Goyer explains, “Many of them are disappointed that I won’t be telling them where they’re going in future seasons.” “Sometimes I don’t even tell them where they are going at the end of the season. Usually, I hold off on episode 10 until I need it, and I’ll edit it again. Or if we have to film a scene with one character, I won’t pass it on to the other actors unless I have to. I don’t like him playing into the future – which is ironic given the nature of our show.

So far, foundation Only confirmed for two seasons, but Goyer’s goals are huge — he’s previously said the outline is for a total of 80 episodes over eight seasons. It is an ambitious plan but he says it is also somewhat flexible. While there are some key plot moments that are firmly in place, the way the characters reach those moments depends on how things progress during production.

“I would say we’re about 85 percent following it so far,” he says about the plan versus the reality of the show. “Season 2 definitely has things I wanted to present in Season 3. , and I just saw an opportunity to pursue that moment. I said, ‘Fuck it, let’s go for it.’ This is something that I have learned from working with (dark Knight Director Christopher) Nolan. He used to say that if you have an idea, burn it now – don’t wait for it.