Info in Movie News | Nearly two decades after donning armor as Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia, Ben Barnes is back in a new kind of battle, this time as a man fighting for justice in The Institute, the latest adaptation of a Stephen King novel. On July 13, a new psychological horror TV series premiered on MGM+ that is definitely suited to these times, focusing on resilience, morality, and the power of youth.
According to Variety, the plot revolves around Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman), a genius youth who is abducted and brought to a mysterious place called the Institute. While there, he finds other kids with telepathic and telekinetic abilities who are no different than him and who are the victims of evil experiments. Although the series delves into the scary aspects of influence and deceit it also provides a heartfelt arc particularly through the character of Tim Jamieson played by Barnes.
Tim, an ex-police officer with a firmly established ethical code, is the center of the story. For Barnes, the role of Tim is going back to characters that he played in the beginning of his acting career and which were very righteous. “In my early twenties, I was involved in telling those stories for the next generation,” Barnes told Variety. “So to get back to playing a man with a real firm grasp on his moral compass, who is fighting to stand up for what’s right, it was something that really interested me.”
After a decade of characters that have had some dark aspects, such as Jigsaw in The Punisher and the Darkling in Shadow and Bone, Barnes' act in The Institute is a refreshing spin, restoring him as nothing less than a beacon of integrity in a world that is becoming increasingly unclear.
Simone Miller, the actress of Kalisha, a girl who was one of the teens taken at the Institute, spoke highly of the bright Gen Z cast. “People can see these actors for the first time here, but it definitely won’t be the last,” she stated. “They are the ones who really understand these characters, so I am glad I can be with them.”
Fionn Laird, who plays Nicky, a reserved older teen at the facility, teased an evolving friendship between his character and Luke. “I think viewers will enjoy watching Nicky open up, especially as Luke arrives. Their bond grows into something almost brotherly,” he said.
Director Jack Bender and executive producer Benjamin Carvell debuted the first episode at the series premiere in Los Angeles. Stephen King himself sent in a special video message, calling the show a faithful adaptation of his 2019 novel.
While fans await Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia reboot, which Barnes has openly supported, The Institute allows the actor to revisit what first made him a star, embodying characters who fight for good in fantastical worlds. And with a compelling mix of horror, hope, and heroism, this series may just be the next essential Stephen King hit.
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