Stephen King Overjoys Fans With News of Production for a Beloved Series
Stephen King has excited fans by announcing that production has started on the second season of The Institute. The author shared the news on social media, writing, “Production has begun on #TheInstitute Season 2! Coming soon to @mgmplus.”
Production has begun on #TheInstitute Season 2! Coming soon to @mgmplus pic.twitter.com/SiPl0SlJSL
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 2, 2026
The Institute is a supernatural horror series on MGM+, based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The show follows a young teenager who wakes up in a mysterious facility where children have special abilities. As he navigates the institute, he uncovers dark secrets hidden within its walls. The series stars Ben Barnes, Mary-Louise Parker, and Joe Freeman, among others.
The show first premiered on July 13, 2025, with a total of eight episodes. Following its debut, MGM+ renewed it for a second season in August 2025. The main cast includes Ben Barnes as Tim Jamieson, Joe Freeman as Luke Ellis, Simone Miller as Kalisha, Fionn Laird as Nick, Hannah Galway as Wendy Gullickson, Julian Richings as Stackhouse, Robert Joy as Dr. Daniel Hendricks, Martin Roach as Chief Ashworth, and Mary-Louise Parker as Ms. Sigsby.
Critical reception has been mixed. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 65% approval rating based on 23 reviews, stating, “A slick and schematic adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, The Institute won’t keep everyone committed but still offers up enough intrigue to merit a tour.” Metacritic gave the show a score of 51 out of 100, indicating “mixed or average” reviews based on 15 critic ratings.
The announcement of the second season shows that fans will get to explore more of the institute’s dark mysteries and see the characters face new challenges.
The first season set a strong foundation for horror and suspense, and a second season could take the story to even darker and more exciting places. What do you think about the news? Are you looking forward to The Institute season two? Share your thoughts in the comments.
