Monday, 15:30 by Karzal

MGM+ releases trailer and first-look photos for Stephen King adaptation The Institute

MGM+ has released the first trailer for The Institute, an eight-episode thriller series based on the 2019 novel of the same name by horror author Stephen King.

The plot of The Institute revolves around Luke Ellis (played by Joe Freeman), a brilliant teenager who is kidnapped and awakens in a mysterious institution where other children have been held captive. Like Luke, these children have not only been kidnapped, but are also all in possession of special gifts. What begins as confusion quickly turns to terror when Luke discovers that horrific experiments are being performed on them. In one scene, one of the children describes the torturous procedures as: “It feels like a nail is being hammered into your forehead.”

The Institute

©Deadline - Chris Reardon/MGM+

Parallel to Luke’s story, the series follows Tim Jamieson (Ben Barnes), a former police officer trying to build a new life in a small town. But he is not allowed to rest; his path will eventually cross with Luke’s, and what follows is a compelling and ominous game of cat and mouse.

In addition to Freeman and Barnes, The Institute stars Mary-Louise Parker as Ms. Sigsby, the sinister leader of the Institute, Simone Miller, Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway, Julian Richings, Robert Joy, and Martin Roach.

The Institute combines Stephen King’s signature blend of psychological horror, youthful vulnerability, and institutional evil. The series builds on themes of loss of innocence, abuse of power, and the young protagonists’ resistance to a system that wants to break them.

For fans of previous King adaptations like The Stand (2020) and 11.22. 63, The Institute is a new must-watch. With first-look footage and gripping footage already released, the series is expected to be a dark but compelling summer thriller on MGM+.

The series premieres on Sunday, July 13th with two episodes and promises to be a haunting, supernatural experience. Check out more photos, the poster and the trailer below.

The Institute