When the trailer for the newStephen Kingsupernatural horror seriesThe Institutedropped earlier this month, fans immediately made the comparison toStranger Things, and rightfully so. How could they not? It’s got kids with psychic abilities in peril after being kidnapped by a secret government entity, and a small-town sheriff trying to uncover the mystery behind it all. Sounds likeStranger Thingsto us. It even sounds like the Netflix hit toThe InstitutestarBen Barnes, but for him, it’s so much more.
Speaking with Radio Times ahead of the release ofThe Instituteon MGM+ on July 13, Barnes – who plays Tim Jamieson – admitted that the new series does feel likeStranger Thingsin some ways, saying it has “a similar kind of gripping tension to it” that “has that quiet, almost detective-like story to it as well.” He would go on to say that while it “marries” some familiar aspects ofStranger Things, onceThe Institutegets going, fans will quickly see that it bends those elements “out of shape” to create something all its own. He added:
“I don’t think it’s derivative at all, but it definitely… there’ll be things that people find familiar.”
All 9 TV Shows Written by Stephen King, Ranked
Besides writing books, Stephen King has served as screenwriter on several television shows.
Hopefully it’s not too similar toStranger Things, and relies more on King’s expertly crafted 2019 novel of the same name that – although similar in many ways – felt nothing like the Netflix series, which is set to return for itsfifth and final season later this year. King has always been the master of putting kids in jeopardy, andThe Institutecontinued his dominance of the genre as he delivered a slow-burning novel filled with three-dimensional characters that explored themes of government overreach – something he’s been very vocal about on social media over the years.
‘The Institute’s Monsters Are All Human
As withmany of King’s stories, the real monsters inThe Instituteare of the human variety, meaning you won’t find any fantastical creatures in this one like we see inStranger Things. That itself, Barnes said, sets it apart from the Netflix series, but if you’ve enjoyed watching the kids in Hawkins, Indiana, over the years, director Jack Bender added that you should definitely check out the new MGM+ show.
Also on hand for the same Radio Times interview with Barnes, Bender (Child’s Play 3,LOST) mentioned how he feelsStranger Thingsis more of a “crayon drawing” when compared toThe Institute, and while that might seem like an insult, nothing could be further from the truth:
“I don’t mean crayon [as] demeaning at all. I thought Stranger Things… what I watched of it was very, very well done, and, needless to say, wildly successful. But I will say that [writer/producer] Ben Cavell’s and my approach to this has always been, let’s make this a little bit more of a dark ink version of that. Let’s make this a little more edgy.”
It certainly sounds likeThe Institutewill stray from theStranger Thingssimilarities over the course of its eight-episode first season, but you’re able to see for yourself if the comparisons are warranted when the first two hit MGM+ on July 13. The remaining six episodes will air weekly thereafter until its conclusion on Aug. 24.
Source:Radio Times
The Institute
The Institute follows a group of ambitious individuals who attend a prestigious educational facility designed to cultivate future leaders in various fields. Set against a backdrop of intense academic and personal challenges, the series examines the complex dynamics between students and faculty. As the characters navigate the pressures of their elite environment, they forge alliances and confront ethical dilemmas to achieve their aspirations.
