While the AppleTV+ series is only loosely based on the Asimov stories, they can still provide something of a blueprint for what to expect in Foundation (2021) season two. They likely draw from the 1942 short story "The Mayors", which follows Salvor Hardin (the character played by Harvey, which is very different from the original portrayal) after he becomes mayor of Terminus. As the trailer for the second season of Foundation (2021) points out, "the second crisis" begins, likely referring to a brand new attack by Anacreon on the Foundation, as internal factions on Terminus advocate its militarization so they can defend themselves.
So far, every main character has been confirmed to return in Foundation (2021) season two, with the possible exception of Chipo Chung as the voice of the Deliverance operating system. The cast will also receive an influx of nine new characters, played by Kulvinder Ghir (Suspicion (2022)), Sandra Yi Sencindiver (Bron/Broen), Ella-Rae Smith (The Stranger (2020)), Dimitri Leonidas (The One), Ben Daniels (The Crown), Holt McCallany (Mindhunter), Rachel House (Cowboy Bebop (2021)), Nimrat Kaur (Homeland) and Isabella Laughland (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance).
While the second season of Foundation (2021) promises an epic sci-fi story that follows a new chapter in the fall of the Empire, it will only tell part of the overarching speculative historical narrative. Goyer has already revealed that, if all goes well, the series will run for eight seasons, meaning that by the end of season two, only a quarter of the full story will be told. While it's a stretch to think the series will be able to run that long, the series was already renewed for a second season after three episodes in the first season, which could mean that the ratings for the Isaac Asimov film adaptation are quite high. Currently are and are expected to remain so.
