"The Institute" Trailer: Psychic Kids Fight for Freedom in New MGM+ Series Based on Stephen King's Best Seller Starring Joe Freeman, Ben Barnes, and Mary-Louise Parker
Based on Stephen King’s novel, a teen prodigy (Joe Freeman) with psychic abilities is locked away in a mysterious research facility while a former cop (Ben Barnes) investigates.
One of the reasons why The New Mutants, the Marvel superhero group related to the X-Men universe, is so relatable to young comic book readers is that we have all, at one time or another, felt like outsiders and misfits. And at times, we might have felt like we’re living in a cruel world that’s actively trying to shun us and wish us away.
Now, The Institute, the forthcoming Amazon MGM original series, is by no means an adaptation of any X-Men or New Mutants properties — but it does have those same themes of belonging, identity, and the struggle to fit in. And at the center of the story is a group of kids with telepathic and telekinetic powers who have been locked away in a secret research facility, held against their will. It’s the kind of setup that feels ripped straight from the pages of a comic book. However, it actually was ripped straight from the pages of horror author Stephen King’s best-selling 2019 novel of the same name.
In this small-screen adaptation of King’s novel, the series introduces newcomer Joe Freeman as Luke Ellis, a teen prodigy who’s whisked off to a top-secret “institute” for kids with off-the-charts psychic abilities. With his parents both presumed dead (or at least far away), Luke has no method to reach out for help or let anyone know what’s happening to him.
Luke’s only hope lies in decorated ex-cop Tim Jamieson, who thought he’d traded crime scenes for small-town serenity. Trouble is, peace and quiet don’t mix well with a nearby facility known for unexplained power surges and structural damage, likely caused by telekinetic tantrums and breakout attempts. With his cop’s intuition kicking in and leading him to snoop around the mysterious building, Jamieson (played by Ben Barnes of HBO’s Westworld and Netflix’s Shadow and Bone) sets off on a direct collision course with Luke.
With King, himself, serving as an executive producer alongside Emmy-winning director Jack Bender (Lost, From) — the two previously collaborated on three seasons of the 2017 series Mr. Mercedes (available now on Peacock), The Institute also stars Emmy-winner Mary-Louise Parker as Ms. Sigsby, the lead director of the so-called school for gifted children. Little do her students know, however, Ms. Sigsby’s methods include torturous experiments to enhance the children’s powers.
Rounding out the cast of the series includes Simone Miller, Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway, Julian Richings, Robert Joy, and Martin Roach.
Written and executive produced by Benjamin Cavell (co-creator of King’s 2020 The Stand miniseries), The Institute is slated to premiere Sunday, July 13th on the Amazon-owned subscription-based streaming platform MGM+. Watch the trailer, above.
Official Synopsis:
The Institute follows the story of teen genius Luke Ellis (Joe 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 (Ben 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.