Stephen King Surprises Fans With Production Announcement For a New Season of a Beloved Series
Stephen King surprised fans on social media today by revealing that production has officially started on the second season of The Institute.
“Production has begun on #TheInstitute Season 2! Coming soon to @mgmplus,” King wrote, confirming that the series is moving forward.
Production has begun on #TheInstitute Season 2! Coming soon to @mgmplus pic.twitter.com/SiPl0SlJSL
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 2, 2026
The Institute is a supernatural horror series created by Benjamin Cavell and directed by Jack Bender, with both also serving as executive producers. The show is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name and stars Ben Barnes, Mary-Louise Parker, and Joe Freeman. It tells the story of a young teenager who wakes up in a mysterious place where children have special abilities, only to uncover the dark secrets of the institute.
The series premiered on MGM+ on July 13, 2025, and its first season consisted of eight episodes. After its release, MGM+ renewed the series for a second season in August 2025. The main cast includes Ben Barnes as Tim Jamieson, Joe Freeman as Luke Ellis, Simone Miller as Kalisha, Fionn Laird as Nick, Hannah Galway as Wendy Gullickson, Julian Richings as Stackhouse, Robert Joy as Dr. Daniel Hendricks, Martin Roach as Chief Ashworth, and Mary-Louise Parker as Ms. Sigsby.
Critics gave the series mixed reviews. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 65% approval rating based on 23 reviews, with the consensus stating, “A slick and schematic adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, The Institute won’t keep everyone committed but still offers up enough intrigue to merit a tour.” Metacritic gave the show a score of 51 out of 100, indicating “mixed or average” reviews.
Fans of the first season can expect the story to continue exploring the mysteries of the institute and the children with unique powers when the new season premieres on MGM+.
What do you think about The Institute getting a second season? Are you excited to see more of King’s world on screen? Share your thoughts in the comments.