Apple TV+ 'Foundation' leadership rocked after budget drama

Foundation poster (Source: Apple TV+)

A new report claims that the show runner of Apple TV+ epic "Foundation" is shifting duties after some behind-the-scenes drama about production and budget cuts.

It's not clear exactly what's going on, beyond some issues with production and budgeting. A report originally claimed that co-creator David S. Goyer was not the show runner any longer, but following that report, a representative from the show said that he was retaining the title.

The report published on Saturday by The Hollywood Reporter claims that instead of running the show on-location Goyer will contribute scripts from Los Angeles. Executive producer Bill Bost will handle the production from the show's primary filming location in Prague.

Other changes include line producer Laurie Borg exiting the production. Doug Moreno is said to take Borg's duties.

Reasons for the shifts are said to be primarily budget-oriented. Previously, it was reported that Apple TV+ was spending $5 million per episode, meaning $50 million every season.

"Foundation" had already seen its third season production interrupted by the Writers' Guild and SAG-AFTRA actors' union strike during 2023. Production was scheduled to resume in February, with around two-thirds of the season still to be shot.

But, cast and crew arriving in Prague and Poland for filming were sent home. Unspecified production issues were said to be the cause, and a ballooning budget was also said to be an issue.

Separately, Apple TV+ drama "Silo" was similarly shut down during production because of the strikes, but it has resumed filming its second season.

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18 Comments

22july2013 3571 comments · 11 Years

About 2 months ago

So the show's budget doesn't have a great… Foundation?

inkling 771 comments · 18 Years

$50 million a season with ten episodes seems like quite a bargain compared to what Amazon spent for the first season of "The Rings of Power." That $50 million for a season wouldn't even cover a single episode of the latter.

Accounting for just the production budget of $465 million, when spread over The Rings of Power’s eight episodes, it results in a cost per episode of $58.1 million. But if we include purchasing the rights on top of that, it equates to a jaw-dropping $89.4 million per episode. In both instances, it makes The Rings of Power the most expensive TV show ever made and by some margin.

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/09/01/the-rings-of-power-cost-per-episode-budget-most-expensive-tv-show/

foregoneconclusion 2690 comments · 12 Years

Good scripts and good casting come first. FX shouldn’t be the reason for watching a show.

michelb76 621 comments · 8 Years

inkling said:

$50 million a season with ten episodes seems like quite a bargain compared to what Amazon spent for the first season of "The Rings of Power." That $50 million for a season wouldn't even cover a single episode of the latter.

Accounting for just the production budget of $465 million, when spread over The Rings of Power’s eight episodes, it results in a cost per episode of $58.1 million. But if we include purchasing the rights on top of that, it equates to a jaw-dropping $89.4 million per episode. In both instances, it makes The Rings of Power the most expensive TV show ever made and by some margin.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/09/01/the-rings-of-power-cost-per-episode-budget-most-expensive-tv-show/

I can imagine Prime having more viewers than Apple TV, with Foundation definitely not being for a large audience, while Rings of Power so far has been quite popular, and worked as a catalyst for subscribers.

Xed 2578 comments · 4 Years

foregoneconclusion said:

Good scripts and good casting come first. FX shouldn’t be the reason for watching a show.

Not the reason, but sets are important. Imagine all the same writing and casting but all you see is a green screen and large cuts that just say what completely CG scene is being displayed between the dialogue. It would suck big monkey balls.