"Foundation" Creator David S. Goyer Departs as Showrunner After Season 3 Finale, Citing Budget and Family

'Foundation' Season 3 Finale: Twists, Turns, and a Showrunner's Exit

The season 3 finale of Apple TV+’s 'Foundation' delivered shocking twists, including the fall of Empire and surprising reveals about the Mule, leaving fans wondering about the show's future. Creator David S. Goyer discusses the finale and his departure from the show as showrunner.

Season 3 Finale Recap: Key Plot Points

The finale, titled "The Darkness," saw significant character deaths and unexpected alliances. Brother Dusk (Terrence Mann), instead of dying, killed the other Empire clones and Demerzel (Laura Birn). He then took the throne, signifying the fall of Empire as foretold by Hari Seldon (Jared Harris).

A major twist revealed that Bayta (Synnøve Karlsen), not Pilou Asbaek’s character, was the true Mule, using her powers to manipulate events. In the episode's final moments, a robot skull on Trantor connected with another robot on the Moon, near Earth, hinting at a new direction for the series.

David S. Goyer's Departure and Season 4 Plans

David S. Goyer revealed that season 3 would be his last as showrunner. His decision stemmed from budget cuts and the difficulty of balancing production in Prague with his family in Los Angeles. "They wanted to lower the budget, which is totally their prerogative," Goyer told TheWrap. "I just was worried that, having done three seasons of it, I was having a hard time figuring out how to keep doing my vision of the show on a smaller budget."

Goyer stated that the new showrunners, Ian Goldberg and David Kob, have his plans for season 4 and beyond. He designed the series with multiple off-ramps, allowing it to conclude after season 4, 6, or 8.

Goyer on the Season's Story and Character Arcs

Goyer explained his approach to planning each season: “The way each season works is, before we assemble the writers room, I will sit down for a few days and I’ll write up a season document based on my current thinking of what the big events will be." He aimed to break storytelling conventions, mirroring shows like "Breaking Bad" and "Game of Thrones," by killing off key characters and ending the season in a seemingly impossible situation.

“What would be the most exciting thing? And the most exciting thing would be if we end the season at a place where you think, ‘How can the show even survive after this? How can the Foundation prevail?’”

The Mule Twist and Bayta's Role

Goyer discussed the decision to make Bayta the true Mule, explaining that he wanted to surprise both book readers and newcomers. He felt that audiences might underestimate Bayta, making her reveal more impactful. He made the "shallow" beginning of Bayta by design, the more she seemed like a vapid character, the bigger the rug pull later.

The character Mule thinks he is the true character with the backstory as well, and is unaware that he is manipulated.

Earth and the Robots' Endgame

The finale's final shot revealed robots on the Moon near Earth, signaling a potential endgame for the series. Goyer had always intended to bring the story back to Earth, where robots have been hiding since the Robot Wars. He moved this reveal forward to coincide with the fall of Empire.

Foundation's Future: Beyond Season 3

An additional article reflects on 'Foundation' as a complex and rewarding series, praising its detailed world-building and compelling characters. The article highlights the show's evolution and the potential challenges it faces with budget cuts and a showrunner change.

Despite the showrunner shift, the writer remains cautiously optimistic that the existing groundwork laid by Goyer will enable a smooth transition for the new creative team. The rich, absorbing experience that 'Foundation' has already provided should not be undermined by future developments.

Key Characters and Performers in Foundation