Stephen King’s The Institute: Ben Barnes and Joe Freeman Interview & Series Preview

MGM+ is set to premiere its chilling new series The Institute, an adaptation of Stephen King’s acclaimed novel, on July 13, 2025. In this exclusive interview, stars Ben Barnes (Black Mirror, Prince Caspian) and Joe Freeman share insights into their characters, working on a Stephen King adaptation, and what kind of an impact they believe it will have on today's generation compared to the impact the original IT miniseries had back in the day.

From executive producers Stephen King and Jack Bender (From), The Institute follows teen prodigy Luke Ellis (Freeman), who is kidnapped and wakes up in a sinister facility known only as the Institute. There, he discovers other children with extraordinary abilities held against their will. Meanwhile, ex-police officer Tim Jamieson (Barnes) is trying to outrun his past—until fate draws him into Luke’s desperate fight for freedom.

The ensemble cast also features Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), Simone Miller (Detention Adventure), Hannah Galway (Sex/Life), Julian Richings (X-Men: The Last Stand), Robert Joy (From), Fionn Laird, and Martin Roach (The Umbrella Academy).

Don’t miss this conversation about bringing King’s haunting story to life—and tune in to The Institute exclusively on MGM+ starting July 13, 2025.

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