News The Institute The Institute Will Recruit You Whether You Like It or Not Being a kid in a Stephen King story is always such a good time. By Molly Templeton | Published on June 13, 2025 Image: Chris Reardon/MGM+ Comment 0 Share New Share Image: Chris Reardon/MGM+ Many adaptations are announced and never heard of again—but not when the source material is a Stephen King novel. The Institute was announced just shy of a year ago, its excellent cast already set. Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) and Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone) star alongside newcomer Joe Freeman in this story of child prodigies kidnapped and put to work saving the world—with or without their consent. At least, that’s how it looks in this trailer, which King himself shared on YouTube. Here’s the series synopsis: The Institute follows the story of teen genius Luke Ellis (Freeman), who is kidnapped and awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did and who are all possessed of unusual abilities. In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson (Barnes) has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won’t last, as his story and Luke’s are destined to collide. This adaptation comes from director/executive producer Jack Bender (Lost, From) and writer Benjamin Cavell—who also co-created the recent adaptation of King’s The Stand. The rest of the cast includes Simone Miller, Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway, Julian Richings, Robert Joy, and Martin Roach. The Institute premieres July 13th on MGM+.[end-mark] The post <i>The Institute</i> Will Recruit You Whether You Like It or Not appeared first on Reactor.