A first-look image has been revealed forThe Institute.The Instituteis a 2019 science-fiction horror-thriller novel by Stephen King. It follows a 12-year-old boy named Luke Ellis, who is a genius with unique powers. Luke’s parents are murdered, and he gets kidnapped and wakes up in a place called the Institute, which houses other kids with mystical powers. It was announced thatThe Institutewas getting a TV adaptation from MGM+ in summer 2024.The Institute’s main cast membershave been revealed, which include Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Barnes, Robert Joy, Julian Richings, Martin Roach, and Joe Freeman.
At a panel at Content London (attended byVariety),MGM+ has revealed the first-look image forThe Institute. The image shows the main character, Luke, sitting in a medical facility with wires attached to him. Along with the image, MGM+ revealed a trailer forThe Instituteat this panel. The source reveals that the trailer included a look at the Institute, which was described as “a cement, brutalist-style building where kids with telekinetic powers are taken after being mysteriously abducted.” King was also revealed to be an executive producer on the series. Check out the image below:
What This Update Means For The Institute
The Main Character Is Changed From The Book
The Instituteimage gives a first look at Freeman in the main role. The young actor is a newcomer to the scene, and will be an entirely new talent for audiences to take in. This image also confirms thatFreeman is several years older than Luke Ellis is in the novel. Director Jack Bender mentioned that this character change was a very conscious choice, noting that the team was “not wanting this to be as awful as it can be.” They were looking to avoid a “sadistic experience,” in a statement realized below:
We were very aware of not wanting this to be as awful as it can be, what these kids go through. We didn’t want it to be a sadistic experience. There’s a fine line and, god knows, as storytellers we didn’t want to go there.
New Stephen King TV Adaptation Risks Being Too Similar To A Hit Amazon Show’s Best Story
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The tests that are enacted upon these slightly older kids will still be extensive, if this first image forThe Instituteis any indication. Creator Benjamin Cavell also spoke about howThe Institutewould connect toKing’s story universemore broadly. According to Cavell,the kids who go to The Institute will possess a form of The Shine, which refers to the psychic abilities that Danny Torrance has inThe Shining. Cavell’s full statement on the connection betweenThe InstituteandThe Shiningcan be found below:
“Kids with ‘The Shine’ are being kidnapped by some shadowy organization that we don’t fully understand. But the kids ultimately are able to find a way to rescue themselves. There isn’t some external force that comes and saves them, the kids have to band together and through their own ingenuity and ability, find their way out.”
Our Take On The Institute’s Updates
Stephen King’s Involvement Is A Good Sign
In all the updates revealed at this panel, I find the most hopeful to be King’s involvement as an executive producer. Especially withThe Institutemaking an age change to the main character, it will be important for the novelist to have some kind of creative role to oversee how the changes play out in the adaptation. Furthermore, he can help facilitate the connection betweenThe InstituteandThe Shining. Hopefully, King’s EP role will enhanceThe Instituteenough to make it a great King adaptation.
The Institute
Cast
A kidnapped prodigy with special abilities, Luke, ends up at The Institute, while Tim, a former cop, seeks a new life in a nearby town. Their fates are inevitably linked.
