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SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) – At 14 years old, Luke Ellis already dreams of studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT. Considered a genius at school, the teenager displays more than just above-average intelligence–he controls objects with his mind, a power he doesn’t yet fully understand.
One night, he is kidnapped and awakens at the Institute, where he is subjected to cruel experiments under the pretext of saving humanity.
This is how “The Institute,” the new MGM+ series based on the eponymous book by American writer Stephen King, begins. The story follows the journey of Luke, played by actor Joe Freeman, and other children with supernatural abilities, confined to a secret facility where they are treated like adults.
There, they live under constant surveillance, follow a routine of tests, and suffer physical and mental punishments. At the same time, they have access to cigarettes and alcohol, purchased with tokens they receive for good behavior.
The tests determine which of them will be “graduated”—transferred to the so-called “back half” of the Institute, unknown to newcomers.
The operation is led by Mrs. Sigsby, played by Mary Louise Parker, the facility’s director, with support from security chief Mr. Stackhouse, portrayed by Julian Richings, and scientist Dr. Hendricks, played by Robert Joy.
The Institute is portrayed in sterile, windowless settings that reinforce a sense of isolation. At the same time, the space incorporates elements from life outside. The bedrooms are replicas of the children’s real bedrooms, and the hallways and dining room resemble those of a school, creating a contrast between familiarity and control.
The series was commissioned by King, who also serves as executive producer. The script is by Ben Cavell, directed and produced by Jack Bender, a frequent collaborator of the writer on other TV adaptations.
According to Bender, the adaptation project began shortly after the Parkland massacre, a school shooting in Florida that left 17 people dead in 2018. “After that incident, I saw the students from that school come together to confront adults about what needed to change. We tried to bring that same reflection into King’s story,” he recalls.
Without supernatural villains, the evil in “The Institute” is human and institutionalized. In this sense, its staff members are also victims of the authoritarian structure, pressured to keep the operation running.
Mrs. Sigsby, for example, believes she is on the right side of history. The daughter of a military man, she learned that some lives can be sacrificed in the name of collective security. “For Sigsby, her feelings and those of others don’t matter. It’s an almost corporate mindset focused on prioritizing the company’s success,” comments actress Mary Louise-Parker.
According to Parker, his interpretation was based on a question posed by Bender at the beginning of filming: “how far would you go to prevent an apocalypse?”
Parallel to this, the narrative follows Tim Jamieson, played by Ben Barnes, a former policeman who settles in a small town in Maine seeking a fresh start. His story runs parallel to Luke’s, until the plots intersect, revealing the inner workings of the operation supporting the Institute.
According to Barnes, the characters Tim and Luke share the drive to confront what they consider unjust. “We’re always hoping that the next generation will change what we couldn’t change. Tim and Luke represent the fact that evil is fought collectively,” says the actor.
For Joe Freeman, the character Luke assumes a leadership role that goes beyond his age. “People underestimate the capabilities of young people, but there are children all over the world who grow up too quickly to survive,” he states.
The adaptation preserves the main events of the book but makes some minor changes. One of them is the age of the main characters, who are somewhat older in the series than in King’s work. According to the creators, this decision was made to avoid excessive cruelty in scenes of violence, as well as to broaden its appeal among teenagers and preteens.
“We wanted everyone to be able to identify with some aspect of the story, not just King fans or sci-fi horror fans,” says screenwriter Ben Cavell. “There’s an inherent challenge in any King adaptation, because he describes characters’ inner lives, their thoughts and emotions, so well. We knew it was a lot to ask of a young actor, but Joe Freeman was a genius,” he adds.
“O Instituto” premieres on July 13, with the release of the first two episodes on the MGM+ channel. The series will also be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, through the MGM+ channel subscription within the platform.
The Institute
When: Premieres on July 13th on MGM+
Rating: Free
Cast: Ben Barnes, Mary Louise-Parker and Joe Freeman
Production: United States, 2025
Directors: Jack Bender and Brad Turner
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