It’s spooky season, so of course we’re going to be treated to a Stephen King adaptation—or two. The second season of “The Institute” is set to hit screens Nov. 8 on the streaming service MGM+. Here’s everything we know about the supernatural horror series. 

The Story

The series is an adaptation of King’s science fiction/horror novel of the same name, published in 2019. It tells the story of a young teen, Luke Ellis, who’s kidnapped by a mysterious organization after his parents are killed. He wakes up in the Institute, where other young people with telepathic and telekinetic abilities are kept—think Eleven in “Stranger Things.”

The kids there are experimented on to try to improve their powers, though they don’t know to what end. Luke works with the fellow youngsters to attempt to break out of the Institute and spill the group’s secrets. 

Season 1 of the series pretty much covered the entirety of the King novel, so it’s a bit unclear where developer Benjamin Cavell plans to take the rest of the story. Few details have been released so far, but in a tease of the second season in August 2025, King said, “Set free but hunted, new dangers await the escapees from the Institute and I can’t wait.”

The cast

• Joe Freeman plays Luke Ellis, the teen at the heart of the story who has telepathic abilities. He’s a relative newcomer, having previously appeared in an episode of the British soap opera “Doctors.”
• Ben Barnes stars as Tim Jamieson, a police officer who is investigating the Institute and eventually helps Luke. He starred in the dark fantasy adaptation “Shadow and Bone” and will next be seen in “East of the River.”
• Mary-Louise Parker is Julia Sigsby, director of the Institute and antagonist of the story. She starred in the adaptation of “Fried Green Tomatoes” and will next appear in a loose adaptation of “And Then There Were None,” titled “The Auction.”

• Simone Miller plays Kalisha, a fellow youngster at the Institute and friend of Luke’s. She previously appeared in “Run the Burbs.”
• Alfie Allen has joined the cast for Season 2 as Nolan Reeves. Not much is known about the character, but MGM+ said he would play a European tech billionaire who is a financial backer of the Institute. Allen is perhaps best known for his role as Theon Greyjoy in “Game of Thrones.” He’s next set to appear in Season 2 of “3 Body Problem.”
• Other cast members include Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway, Julian Richings, Robert Joy, Jason Diaz and Viggo Hanvelt. 

Behind the scenes

• Stephen King published “The Institute” in 2019 and in an interview with The New York Times drew parallels between his story and the first Trump administration’s separation of immigrant families and incarceration of children. He serves as executive producer on the television adaptation and has generally been supportive of the series. 
• Benjamin Cavell developed and wrote the series. He said Season 2 of the show will expand on the original novel, suggesting other institutes may come into play. Cavell also developed the 2020 series adaptation of King’s “The Stand.”

How to watch

“The Institute” will air beginning Nov. 8 on streaming platform MGM+. 

About the writer

Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened. She’s been a fan of Stephen King since she—against sound judgment—read “The Shining” at age 12.