‘The Institute’ Will Deepen Its Stephen King Mystery With a Second Season

Have you been watching The Institute? While MGM+ isn’t the best-known streaming platform, it’s worth finding your way there just to check out the Stephen King adaptation, set in and around a secretive facility that snatches psychically gifted kids from their families and tasks them with some very dark deeds. And it seems many folks have been doing just that, because it just got renewed.

According to an MGM+ press release sharing the news, The Institute had the streamer’s best-ever premiere. You have to guess a big chunk of that was curious King fans, and the author—who’s also one of the show’s executive producers—proudly shared the renewal news.

Sometimes you win just by showing them you’re still willing to fight. #TheInstitute will return for Season 2 on @MGMplus pic.twitter.com/WU5JsXzSVf

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 22, 2025

The first season wraps up August 24, and for now MGM+ isn’t announcing any casting for season two—no doubt not wanting to spoil who’ll make it out of the upcoming finale to fight another day. Season one, however, had a killer ensemble led by Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone, Westworld), Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), and—as the main character, a kid with ESP and bravery in equal amounts—relative newcomer Joe Freeman.

“Set free but hunted, new dangers await the escapees from the Institute, and I can’t wait,” King said in the release, which is kind of a spoiler if you haven’t read his source-material novel, but it’s not really a surprise that some of the show’s young characters will be set free. This is a King story after all; kids triumphing over evil is one of his favorite themes

“The Institute has thrilled audiences with its distinctive storytelling and exceptional performances that expertly bring the singular voice of Stephen King to the screen,” added Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “We’re so happy to be able to continue and expand this chilling journey and dive even deeper into the secrets of The Institute in season two.”

The season one finale of The Institute airs Sunday, August 24, on MGM+. Have you been watching?

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