Ballooning budget puts Apple TV Plus Original Foundation's future at risk

Foundation — Official Season 2 Sneak Peek | Apple TV+
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The co-creator of Foundation, one of the best Apple TV Plus shows, is stepping back from his show duties amidst budget cuts drama.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the change comes after sources claimed: “Goyer and executives at the show’s production company, Skydance, clashed over the budget for the upcoming season.”

Foundation’s third season has been on a hiatus since March last year when the Hollywood strikes led to the halting of filming. Earlier this month, cast and crew were sent home from Poland, where filming takes place until problems with production were ironed out. Goyer will continue to be “creatively involved with the show, contributing scripts from Los Angeles,” with executive producer Bill Bost overseeing the rest of season three’s photography. 

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Foundation is a sci-fi epic that tells the story of humans across the galaxy living under the rule of an evil empire based on a book by Isaac Asimov. The show has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy for its visual effects. The show is one of Apple’s most expensive productions, with estimates that the show costs around $5 million to film each episode.

What’s to come for Apple TV Plus?

With the end of the Hollywood strikes, filming has recommenced for a lot of productions, including shows like Silo and Severance. There’s a lot to be excited about on Apple TV Plus, with the company looking to cement itself as a key player in the streaming wars. 

One of the best movies on Apple TV Plus, Killers of the Flower Moon, is nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards and Lily Gladstone is amongst the frontrunners for Best Actress following her win at the SAG Awards on Saturday night.

It’s estimated that Killers of the Flower Moon cost roughly $200 million and hasn’t yet made that back at the box office. Elsewhere, Apple Original, Argylle was a massive box office flop, recouping less than a tenth of its budget. In a world where the cinema and streaming services are fighting for our attention, it’s going to be difficult to see true profit from any big-budget production, regardless of whether it’s a film or a TV show. 

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John-Anthony Disotto
Editor

John-Anthony Disotto is the Editor of iMore, helping you get the most from your Apple products and fixing things when your technology isn't behaving itself.

Based in Scotland, where he worked as a Genius Bar technician repairing iPhones, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself on closing his Apple Watch activity rings.

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Previously in editorial at TechRadar and Tom's Guide, John-Anthony is an avid film geek who won the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019. Away from Apple, he tinkers with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.