Stephen King’s Returning Sci-Fi Series Will Be “Torture” For Its Characters, Teases Star

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Stephen King‘s returning sci-fi TV show is going to be “torture” for its characters.

Joe Freeman, the star of The Institute, has shared exciting news about season 2 of the sci-fi series, which is based on Stephen King’s 2019 novel. The new season will continue the story of the children with special powers, but with an original storyline set after the events of the book.

Speaking with Ash Crossan from ScreenRant at the Saturn Awards, actor James Freeman, who plays Luke Ellis, revealed that filming for season two of The Institute is currently happening. While he didn’t share any specific details, Freeman hinted that viewers can expect increased drama, with the characters facing a lot of challenges involving both intense situations and desperate escapes.

We’re currently filming the second season of More Institute! You can look forward to seeing plenty of running, dramatic moments, and some challenging situations for the cast and crew – it’s us who go through the real hardship, not the viewers! [laughs]

The first season of The Institute concluded much like the original novel, with the children managing to escape. However, the show and book aren’t exactly the same. The series prioritizes action, which means certain details from the book, such as who the mysterious Man on the Phone is, haven’t been revealed yet.

This sets up the story for season two, particularly after learning that the facility is just one of several across the country experimenting on children with special abilities. While we don’t know exactly what will happen next season, it will probably involve these other locations, and Luke might take the lead in rescuing more kids.

The fact that season 2 is now being filmed suggests it might be released earlier than anticipated. Season 1 took from August to November 2024 to film and then premiered in July 2025. While we don’t have a specific schedule for season 2 yet, the show – based on the work of Stephen King – has already been confirmed for a 2026 release, which means production is progressing well.

According to Freeman, the characters aren’t safe yet, even after escaping. The program that controlled them is still active, and powerful figures like Ms. Sigsby remain, meaning they’ll likely face new challenges. It’s unclear what these challenges will be or how they’ll affect the characters going forward.

Season 2 of The Institute appears to be heading in a strong direction, promising a story that suits the characters as they face difficult challenges. While it’s unknown whether they’ll be on the run or working to help people in various places, the season finale of season 1 suggests things will continue to escalate and become more intense.

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2026-03-10 17:48