In the time between Foundation’s second season (which ended in September 2023) and its upcoming third, a lot has happened. A year ago, production on the third season was postponed due to “issues related to budgeting and physical production,” according to Deadline. It was the second time the season had paused; the first was due to the 2023 strikes.
But there were other issues, too: A later Deadline report noted that showrunner David S. Goyer, who also co-developed the series, would “complete his outstanding writing and directing services and will remain involved as an executive producer but will not be directing further Season 3 episodes as previously planned.”
Then, a week ago, Goyer left the series entirely, announcing in a newsletter that season three would be his last on the show. He wrote, “S3 will be the last season with my day-to-day involvement, along with most of my fellow directors and writers. I adore the cast and it was a difficult decision. The reasons for my leaving are complicated and were certainly exacerbated by strike-related issues.”
(He is presumably also quite busy with the AI-and-blockchain company he’s been putting together.)
Six days later, a new showrunner was announced. Deadline has the news that Ian Goldberg (Fear the Walking Dead, Once Upon a Time) is now running Foundation, and that a new writers’ room has been put together for season four—which, notably, has not yet been ordered by Apple TV+.
That is a lot of change. Goyer’s note goes on to say that spending all his time in Europe was “a drag on my soul,” but that doesn’t explain the changeover of “most” of the directors and writers. But there’s an interesting detail buried in Goldberg’s hiring: Years ago, he wrote for Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which was created by Josh Friedman—the other co-creator of Foundation.
The third season of Foundation is likely to arrive on Apple TV+ later this year. It remains to be seen what happens with the fourth.
