US EditionStephen King's 'The Institute' makes a compelling dark thriller series with enough mystery to keep you hooked
MAINE, JUL 13 – The psychological thriller explores secret experiments on gifted children and features a strong cast led by Joe Freeman, with episodes releasing weekly on MGM Plus.
- The Institute, a thriller series based on Stephen King's 2019 novel, premiered on MGM+ on July 13, 2025.
- The story follows 14-year-old telekinetic prodigy Luke Ellis, who is abducted from his Minnesota home and taken to a secretive facility called The Institute.
- The series also follows Tim Jamieson, a former police officer portrayed by Ben Barnes, who accepts a discreet security position in a small Maine town where he becomes involved in the case of missing children connected to The Institute.
- The show explores dark themes of control and experimentation on gifted children, with Ms. Sigsby, portrayed by Mary-Louise Parker, revealed as a cold overseer, while Luke and others plan a risky escape.
- The Institute offers a gripping but flawed narrative praised for its cast and tension, though its climax and ending leave some questions unanswered and a somewhat open conclusion.
14 Articles
14 Articles
‘The Institute’ Review: A Clunky Stephen King Series About the Clarity of Youth
In the TV adaptation for MGM+, Mary Louise-Parker runs a mysterious organization in the outskirts of Maine where kidnapped children with special abilities work to "save the world."
THE INSTITUTE's Viggo Hanvelt Talks Playing Avery in New Horror Series
It’s time for a Stephen King Summer. MGM+ has blessed us with an adaptation of King’s 2019 novel The Institute, and the eight-episode series promises a high-octane, horror-fueled mystery. It juggles two storylines: the titular Institute, run by the mysterious Ms. Sigsby (Mary-Louise Parker), and haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson (Ben Barnes). Avery, played by Viggo Hanvelt, is an inmate of the Institute — the youngest and most powerful …
New Stephen King Horror Show Helps Redeem 2 Failed Adaptations Of One Of His Most Powerful Characters
Despite featuring Stephen King's most powerful characters, two adaptations of the author's works failed to leave their mark. However, a new TV show based on a relatively recent novel by the King of Horror seems to redeem both failed movies in more ways than one.
‘The Institute’ Interview: Ben Barnes & Joe Freeman Discuss Working on the New Stephen King Adaptation
We were joined on the Popternative show by Ben Barnes (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) and Joe Freeman who star in the new sci-fi horror series, The Institute. The series is an adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same title and premiered on MGM+ on July 13 with the first two episodes. From executive producers Stephen King and Jack Bender (From, Lost), The Institute follows the story of teen genius Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman) who i…
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