Issac Asimov's Foundation series first debuted as a series of short stories in 1942 and has gone on to become one of the benchmark pieces of science-fiction from the 20th century. The story continues to inspire audiences today and serves as the basis for the most epic entry into the Apple TV+ streaming library. Now, longtime geek legend David S. Goyer will tackle the heady and dense sci-fi series as an executive producer and writer.
During an exclusive interview with CBR ahead of Foundation's Sept. 24 release, Goyer delved into what defines his work across various adaptations and revealed how excited he is to see a new incarnation of Blade come to the big screen. Having established himself as one of Hollywood's premiere voices in sci-fi and superheroes, he reflected on his own works and how the industry has evolved with him over the years.
CBR: One of the most interesting elements of Foundation is that, had it been made twenty years ago, it would have likely looked entirely different -- but with this adaptation, you and your team have proven willing to change the race and gender and cultures of characters in the name of being more reflective of the world as it is today. As someone who's been so involved in the entertainment industry for so long, what is it like to see that evolution from the inside?
David S. Goyer: I think that's something that as I've gotten older, I've become more cognizant of. When it became apparent that this adaptation was going to be a reality, I thought that we had a tremendous responsibility. Because of the platform of Apple TV+, because of its global reach, I thought it was really important that the characters in the show reflect the audience that is going to be receiving the show, and also that this is the world that we're in today, and we're creating it for an audience of today.
But we're extrapolating 25,000 years in the future, when all the current countries that exist on the world probably won't exist anymore. We don't even know if Earth is going to exist for 25,000 years in the future. So it seemed silly not to have the show reflect the audience.
One of your big breaks in this industry was working on the Blade trilogy of films, which helped usher in this current age of superhero filmmaking. What was your reaction to the news that Blade was coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that it would be Mahershala Ali in the title role?
I'm thrilled by it. I love it. I mean, one of the things, if you're a comic book fan, there is the 1940s Batman and the 1950s Batman, and then there's the Denny O'Neil and Neil Adams' Batman, and the Frank Miller Batman. They're perennials, and I couldn't be more tickled that another version of Blade is coming out. [Marershala Ali] is certainly one of the most amazing actors working today. I'll be one of the first people to buy a ticket to that film.
Across the various projects you've been involved with over the years -- spanning from your geek culture contributions to your other, more dramatic work -- what would you say is the throughline to the projects you've been involved with?
As a person who works in film and television and other mass-consumed media, I would say, look, I'm a true genre fan. I'm a nerd; I'm a geek. I consume all of that stuff. I'm aware that when I adapt one of these hallowed pieces of work, it has to work beyond the niche audience that it began as. So in approaching Blade, in approaching Batman, in approaching any of these things... I love genre, but for me, it's important that the story be able to work without the genre aspects.
So, for example, The Night House [which Goyer produced] is a story about grief. Foundation is a story about legacy and about sacrifice for future generations. So, at every point, with every scene, with every storyline, I always say, "We need to strip away all of the genre elements" -- Batman as well -- "and make sure that this works as a story without any of the genre trappings." If it works, if I can pitch the story just on an emotional level as if it were a contemporary drama, then I know the story's working, and then I know it will appeal to people beyond the hardcore fans.
Foundation premieres Friday, Sept. 24 on Apple TV+. The first two episodes will be available at launch, with subsequent episodes arriving every Friday.