Stephen King's The Institute: Confirmation, Cast, Story & Everything We Know (2024)

Another Stephen King novel is being adapted for the small screen with the announcement of MGM+'s miniseries based on King's The Institute. Released in 2019, the underrated horror book concerns a gifted 12-year-old boy named Luke who is mysteriously kidnapped and finds himself in an institute surrounded by children just like him. It wouldn't be a King novel with a strange twist, and Luke's gifts stretch far beyond the intellectual and include telekinesis. Stretching back to King's debut novel, Carrie, the King of Horror has always had a penchant for stories about strange children.

When it comes to adapted works, TV shows and movies based on Stephen King's works are numerous, and though they range greatly in quality, they are almost always popular. Even as classic King books like Salem's Lot and IT are being made and remade again and again, the prolific writer continues to churn out books and short stories that are worth adapting as well. The Institute is one such novel, and though it is certainly one of his lesser-known modern works, it has all the hallmarks of a brilliant King adaptation in the making.

Stephen King's The Institute Latest News

The King Miniseries Is Green-Lit At MGM+

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Though rumblings of an adaptation of the 2019 novel have circulated for years, the latest news confirms that an adaptation of Stephen King's The Institute is in the works at MGM+. The streaming exclusive platform has green-lit an 8-episode miniseries that will bring the underrated thriller to life, and plans are already in place to begin shooting later in 2024. Jack Bender will pull double duty as executive producer and director for the miniseries, while Benjamin Cavell will pen the scripts. Cavell is no stranger to King's works, and he is perhaps best known for writing Mr. Mercedes and the most recent adaptation of The Stand.

Stephen King's The Institute Is Confirmed

The Project Was Teased In 2019

Like most works by Stephen King, Hollywood came knocking to adapt The Institute as soon as the book hit shelves back in 2019. Though Jack Bender was attached from the outset, original producer David E. Kelly has seemingly exited in the years since. Interestingly enough, though the project took a long time to finally materialize, it was planned as a miniseries from the outset. Now, MGM+ has officially green-lit the series and The Institute will open its doors sooner rather than later.

Stephen King's The Institute Production Status

Filming Begins Later In 2024

After a lengthy development phase, it appears as if Stephen King's The Institute is poised to enter the next step of production. According to the announcement of MGM+'s development of the Stephen King series, shooting is set to begin later in 2024 and will take place in Nova Scotia, Canada. Though the miniseries hasn't been given a release window yet, its assumed that it will air sometime in mid-2025 unless there are unforeseen delays.

Stephen King's The Institute Cast

Ben Barnes & Mary-Louise Parker Have Been Cast

Though the lead role of 12-year-old Luke Ellis has yet to be cast, the adult cast of The Institute is already beginning to take shape. Tapped to play the mysterious leader of the eponymous Institute, Ms. Sigsby, TV veteran Mary-Louise Parker will lend her considerable star-power and experience in the miniseries. Parker is perhaps best known for her stint in the lead role of the cult-classic series Weeds on Showtime. Joining Parker is Shadow and Bone alumnus Ben Barnes, who will play haunted ex-police officer Tim Jamieson, who investigates the Institute.

The cast of The Institute currently includes:

Actor	The Institute Role
Mary-Louise Parker	Ms. Sigsby
Ben Barnes	Tim Jamieson

Stephen King's The Institute Story

A Mysterious Institute & Kids With Telepathic Powers

Never a stranger to the weird and supernatural, Stephen King's The Institute features many trademarks of the author's most famous works. The story concerns a 12-year-old boy named Luke Ellis who is kidnapped and forced to live in a mysterious institute where he is surrounded by other youngsters who possess his telepathic abilities. Meanwhile, tortured former police officer Tim Jamieson moves into the town next-door looking to start a new life, but his past is inextricably linked to Luke's, and he can't escape his shadowy history.