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The two Apple TV+ science-fiction releases described as “coming soon” in 2025 were Murderbot and Foundation season 3. They have both premiered: Murderbot debuted on May 16, 2025, and Foundation season 3 followed on July 11. One is a comic, character-focused story about an autonomous security construct; the other is a continuing, galaxy-spanning adaptation of Isaac Asimov.
The original preview appeared on May 6, 2025, when Murderbot was close to release and the date for Foundation season 3 had not yet been officially confirmed. Apple confirmed the latter’s July 11 premiere the next day. Both seasons have since completed their original weekly runs. This is a retrospective, not a list of upcoming premieres.
Murderbot: an awkward AI would rather watch TV
Murderbot is a 10-episode science-fiction comedy-thriller starring Alexander Skarsgård, who also serves as an executive producer. Based on Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, it follows a security construct that hacks its governor module and gains the ability to act independently. Its newfound freedom does not make it eager to become a hero: it would rather avoid human emotional entanglements and watch futuristic soap operas than get dragged into dangerous assignments.
That premise gives the show a smaller, more personal scale than a conventional space opera. Its central appeal is the contrast between a capable security machine and its discomfort with people, obligation, and the role others expect it to play. The adaptation was created by Chris and Paul Weitz. The supporting cast includes Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, and Tamara Podemski.
#1 Best Overall
Apple released the first two episodes on May 16, 2025, then released episodes weekly through July 11. Apple’s announcement and premiere schedule give the original release details.
Foundation season 3: a new threat to the Empire
Foundation season 3 is the third installment of Apple’s adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s fiction, not a new series or a direct continuation of Murderbot. It returns to Hari Seldon, Gaal Dornick, the Cleonic Dynasty, and Demerzel. The story jumps 152 years beyond season 2, as the Foundation becomes more established while the Galactic Empire weakens.
The season introduces the Mule, a warlord whose threat combines military force with mind control. That expands the conflict beyond political maneuvering, while keeping the series’ larger concerns—power, history, and the fate of civilizations—at its center. Returning cast members include Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell, Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, and Terrence Mann. New cast members include Cherry Jones, Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur, Cody Fern, Synnøve Karlsen, and Pilou Asbæk. These are premise-level details; they do not require revealing the season’s major outcomes.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteApple set the season’s premiere for July 11, 2025, and released one episode weekly through its September 12 finale. Its official date announcement confirmed the timing, while the trailer announcement stated the weekly schedule.
How the two shows differ
| What to compare | Murderbot | Foundation season 3 |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A new series | The third season of an ongoing series |
| Source | Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries | Isaac Asimov’s Foundation stories |
| Tone and scale | Comedic, introspective, and centered on one construct and its assignments | A political and philosophical space epic spanning civilizations and long periods of time |
| Main draw | AI autonomy, identity, social awkwardness, and humor | Empire, psychohistory, dynastic power, war, and historical change |
| Viewing context | An easier entry point for a new viewer | Best approached after seasons 1 and 2, which establish its characters and conflicts |
Calling both releases “big” describes their prominence and production ambitions, not a shared storyline, crossover, or combined release event. They are separate adaptations with very different storytelling aims. Neither should be treated as a scene-by-scene transcription of its books.
Which one should you start with?
Choose Murderbot if you want a comparatively straightforward entry point, a strong central performance, and science fiction that finds humor in an artificial being’s attempts to avoid human drama. Its story is more focused on a character and the people around it.
Rank #4
Start with Foundation only if its scale and themes appeal to you and you are willing to catch up on the earlier seasons first. Season 3 builds on that continuity; beginning with it means entering a story already shaped by prior political and personal conflicts. It is the better fit for viewers looking for a serialized epic about societies and power rather than a contained, character-led premise.
Where to watch now
Apple’s listings identify Murderbot and Foundation as Apple TV titles. Their episodes are past premieres, rather than forthcoming drops. Catalog availability, plans, subtitles, audio options, and playback support can differ by country and change over time, so check the Apple TV listing for your region. The service name and subscription branding can also vary across Apple’s materials and markets; the old 2025 subscription price is not a reliable guide to the current price.
Best Value
Together, the shows offered two distinct ways into science fiction: Murderbot turns an AI’s resistance to social expectations into a comic character story, while Foundation follows the consequences of power and history on a galactic scale. If the original “coming soon” framing brought you here, the practical update is simple: both 2025 releases have arrived, and the choice is between a new, relatively accessible series and a third season that rewards prior viewing.
Quick Recap
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