Another day, another Stephen King adaptation is in the works! This one comes from MGM+ and will be a series adaptation of The Institute starring Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone, The Punisher, Westworld) and Mary-Louise Parker(Weeds, Angels in America).
Haven’t read The Institute yet? Here’s the official synopsis of the series:
When 12-year-old genius Luke Ellis is kidnapped, he 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 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.
Barnes will play Tim Jamieson, who MGM+ describes as “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.”
Parker will play Mrs. Sigsby, a “charming but iron-willed director of the Institute and a true believer in its awful mission. She’s certain history will come to see her as a hero.”
The eight-episode series comes from Jack Bender (Lost, Mr. Mercedes, From) and executive producer and writer Benjamin Cavell (Justified, The Stand).
“I’m delighted and excited at the prospect of The Institute, with its high-intensity suspense, being filmed as a series,” King said in a statement. “The combination of Jack Bender and Ben Cavell guarantees that the results will be terrific.”
Bender added, “I’m thrilled that Stephen King has entrusted me with another of his brilliant novels and continuing the extraordinary creative relationship with Michael Wright and MGM+. Working alongside Ben Cavell and a team of exceptional writers, to tell the story of these uniquely gifted children, will ensure a suspenseful and engrossing series.”
No news on when the series will make its way to a small screen near you, but production will take place in Nova Scotia later this year.
