The gripping new eight-episode series explores a sinister facility where abducted children with extraordinary powers are subjected to terrifying experiments.
MGM+ has officially released the first trailer for The Institute, its upcoming psychological thriller based on Stephen King’s 2019 novel. The eight-episode series is set to premiere on July 13.
The trailer opens with an ominous voiceover: “There are things going on that you would not believe.” What follows is a haunting glimpse into a mysterious institution where abducted, gifted children are subjected to cruel and mind-bending experiments. One disturbing moment features a young girl chillingly describing her pain: “It feels like a nail is being hammered into your forehead.”
Directed by Jack Bender (From) and written by Benjamin Cavell (Justified, The Stand), the series centers on Luke Ellis (played by Joe Freeman), a teenage genius who wakes up in The Institute—a shadowy facility filled with other children who share his fate and unusual psychic abilities. Meanwhile, in a nearby town, Tim Jamieson (Ben Barnes), a former police officer seeking a quiet life, finds his path dangerously converging with Luke’s.
The cast also includes Mary-Louise Parker as the formidable Ms. Sigsby, Simone Miller as Kalisha, Fionn Laird as Nick, Hannah Galway as Wendy, Julian Richings as Stackhouse, Robert Joy as Dr. Hendricks, and Martin Roach as Chief Ashworth.
Stephen King serves as executive producer alongside Bender, Cavell, Gary Barber, Sam Sheridan, and Ed Redlich. The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios.
With its eerie tone, emotional stakes, and morally complex characters, The Institute is shaping up to be a must-watch for both King fans and lovers of supernatural suspense.