The Institute Showrunners Tease Exciting Future with More Seasons Planned!

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The creators of MGM+’s chilling series, The Institute, have hinted at extending the show beyond one season if they’re granted the opportunity. This is interesting because the source material, a Stephen King novel with the same title, consisted of just one book, causing some to speculate that this new adaptation would be a miniseries.

The series centers around Joe Freeman’s character, Luke Ellis, who gets abducted by a secretive establishment known as The Institute, managed by the enigmatic Ms. Sigsby, portrayed by Mary-Louise Parker. Soon after, Luke discovers he possesses psychokinetic powers, much like other inmates confined with him. This revelation leads to his enduring torment and experimentation.

In an exclusive chat, TopMob sat down with executive producers Benjamin Cavell and Jack Bender. They shared some exciting ambitions for the series’ upcoming developments.

Cavell shared with TopMob that they definitely intend to explore more, expressing that there are specific locations where they want the narrative to unfold. Additionally, he pointed out that the book concludes with a hint of a larger world and a broader conspiracy, which is analogous to how they are wrapping up Season 1 as well.

They both added comments about the significant transformations required in adapting the book’s narrative for television. Jack Bender clarified that their intention was not to create a gruesome series, which influenced their decision to age many of the characters.

Bender shared that upon discovering Joe Freeman, an exceptional individual, they decided to slightly mature the children for them to marry around him. He further explained that this adjustment maintains the show’s ability to be both unsettling and terrifying.

Bender emphasized that the concept of kids inheriting the Earth, with the precondition that they must first ensure their own survival, served as a kind of guiding principle for the team.

The Institute starts streaming on MGM+ on July 13, 2025.

The Institute Showrunners‘ Plan for Multiple Seasons

The Original Book Is Only the Beginning.

  • TopMob: “Is there a long-term plan here, multiple seasons? Or do we see this as limited?”

Benjamin Cavell indicates they are definitely eager to delve deeper: They have specific locations they envision the narrative unfolding, hinting that the story may uncover a broader world and more intricate conspiracies than previously portrayed. The book’s conclusion suggests this expansive universe, which is how we intend to conclude Season 1 as well. If there’s an appetite for more content, they are absolutely ready to expand upon it. They have even discussed the possibility with Stephen King, who appears enthusiastic about the prospect. An ideal scenario would be to continue the story if given the chance.

Jack Bender mentioned that Stephen King occasionally takes up the role of Executive Producer for their show, and everyone desires to see him claim credit for it, as he is entitled to do so.

Benjamin Cavell: He tends to endorse something only when he genuinely supports it. For instance, Stephen King usually includes in his contracts the option to be an executive producer, but he exercises this privilege only when he fully backs a project. This aspect has been quite rewarding, and we certainly hope it continues.

  • TopMob: “When it came to creating this show, what were some of the key changes you both felt needed to be made as this story jumped mediums?”

One approach to rephrase Benjamin Cavell’s statement in a more natural and easy-to-understand way could be:

Benjamin Cavell: The difficulty in adapting Stephen King’s work lies in the fact that a significant part of its appeal comes from the intimate access it provides to the characters’ deepest, darkest thoughts and emotions. This internal aspect makes it challenging to transform these hidden feelings into something that can be portrayed visually on screen, as they are typically not explicitly shared by the characters.

One challenge we faced when adapting ‘The Institute’ was making the children slightly older than their book counterparts. Another significant story challenge was the absence of the Ben Barnes character, Tim, for a large portion of the novel. In the original story, he appears in the first 70 pages, then disappears until Luke finds him later on, which brings him back into the narrative.

In other words, we needed to find a method to subtly introduce him into the plot without making him the main savior figure, ensuring he becomes knowledgeable about The Institute while still preserving the concept that the children must fend for themselves. This was our primary challenge when modifying the storyline.

Jack Bender: Indeed, we aimed to avoid creating a show that was overly grim, with the exception of the character Avery, who is introduced at age 10 in Episode 2.

When we met Joe Freeman, such an exceptional individual, it prompted us to subtly increase the ages of the characters so they could marry around him, adding depth to the storyline. At the same time, maintaining an unsettling atmosphere was crucial to keep the show from becoming too disturbing but still retaining its horror elements. Navigating this fine line was our aim.

When I initially received the book, a school shooting had recently occurred, leaving a devastating impact. The survivors, who had grown into a powerful political force, confronted the adults and politicians around them, bluntly stating, “You all messed up. We know how to fix this. Move aside.” This struck me as an embodiment of the future, as they emerged as leaders on the issue.

For Ben and I, the concept that children should inherit the Earth, but must first protect themselves, served as a guiding principle as we began planning our approach. And since then, Steven has consistently believed that children are of utmost importance in our endeavor.

The full video interviews, alongside our conversations with the cast, can be viewed here:

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2025-07-17 21:05