First Look at Stephen King’s ‘The Institute’ Series for MGM+

Stephen King’s 2019 novel ‘The Institute’ is set to make its way to the screen as a streaming television series on MGM+. Today, Variety shared the first official image from the highly anticipated series and reported that King himself is serving as an executive producer.

The series is being led by creator and producer Benjamin Cavell, who teased the plot: “Kids with ‘The Shine’ [telekinetic powers from King’s The Shining] are being abducted by a mysterious organization. However, the children eventually find a way to rescue themselves. There isn’t an external force that comes to save them—they have to rely on each other’s ingenuity and abilities to escape.”

The cast includes Ben Barnes, Mary-Louise Parker, Simone Miller, and Jason Diaz . In the eight-episode series, 12-year-old genius Luke Ellis is kidnapped and wakes up at The Institute, a facility filled with other children who share his unusual abilities. In a nearby town, Tim Jamieson (played by Barnes), a former police officer looking for a fresh start, finds his life disrupted as his fate intertwines with Luke’s. Parker will portray Ms. Sigsby, the Institute’s charming yet formidable director, who is a true believer in its sinister mission.

The series is directed and executive produced by Jack Bender, with Benjamin Cavell as writer and executive producer. ‘The Institute’ is produced by MGM+ Studios.