Warning: Spoilers ahead forFoundationseason 3, episode 2, “Shadows in the Math.“The first of Isaac Asimov’sFoundationbooks predatesStar Warsby over 25 years, so it’s understandable that George Lucas' space opera would be inspired by Asimov’s, but the Apple TV+ adaptation of the legendary sci-fi author’s work has found ways to repay the favor to a galaxy far, far away.
TheStar Warsmoviesand TV shows combine to form one of the most beloved and successful space operas of all time. However, the franchise would look very different, or perhaps not even have happened at all, if not forAsimov’sFoundationbooks. Now, the impact thatFoundationclearly had on theStar Warstimelinehas come full circle again.
First published in 1951,Foundationmarked the beginning of a series of books by Isaac Asimovthat would go on to combine with his Robot saga. The sheer scale of the storyline meant it was always going to be difficult to adapt for TV, but Apple TV+ has found a way after making some notable changes.
Isaac Asimov Has Argued That His Foundation Books Inspired Star Wars
The Foundation author claims Lucas was quietly a fan of his
The originalFoundationauthor passed away in 1992, so he had the chance to witness the birth of George Lucas' franchise asStar Wars' original trilogycame into existence. In the sci-fi writer’s posthumously-released autobiography, 1994’sI. Asimov: A Memoir, he openly stated that he believedStar Warsborrowed from hisFoundationseries.
“I borrowed freely from Edward Gibbon’s History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in planning the Foundation series, and I believe that the motion picture Star Wars did not hesitate, in turn, to borrow from the Foundation series.”
-I. Asimov: A Memoir (1994)
Granted,Asimov also admitted that he borrowed heavily from real-world historywhen penning his space opera. Specifically, he used the decline of the Roman Empire as the blueprint for the ever-shrinking realm overseen by Cleon I. However, the concept of a galactic empire was popularized, but not developed, by Asimov himself. So, his theory doesn’t necessarily establish him as the trope’s originator.
I Agree With Asimov - Star Wars Probably Drew Inspiration From Foundation
It’s not a difficult assumption to make
George Lucas has never mentionedFoundationas a source of inspiration forStar Wars, but I think it’s a good bet that Isaac Asimov is right. I’m also sure I’m not alone in thinking theStar Warscreator is a big fan ofFrank Herbert’sDuneseries, as both sagas share several parallels.
Of course, there is no shame in drawing inspiration from works that have come before. Building upon existing ideas is a big part of what helps storytelling grow in general, not just within the confines of science-fiction.Asimov didn’t pluck his ideas out of thin air either, but he did add more to the formulas he so clearly adored.
Even if George Lucas is not an active fan of theFoundationbooks, the series had such a big impact on the space opera genre thatStar Warslikely owes Asimov at least part of its existence.
Similarly,Star Warshas gone on to inspire numerous generations of writers, some of whom are probably writing for Apple TV+’s adaptation right now. In fact, according toThe Hollywood Reporter,Foundationcreator David S. Goyer once penned a script for aStar Warsmovie that would eventually be axed.
Examples Of Star Wars' Connections To Apple TV+’s Foundation
Emperor Palpatine returning as a clone felt like Star Wars foreshadowing the Foundation TV show
The live-actionFoundationseries being made afterStar WarsmeansApple TV+ has been able to fold in certain references to George Lucas' iconic franchise, creating a cool full-circle phenomenon. As well asFoundationborrowing several of its visuals fromStar Wars, there’s even a specific storyline that the former has borrowed from the latter.
Apple TV+ has made several additions and changes toFoundation, and the Cleonic Dynasty is one of them. While Cleon is a character in the books, he is an incredibly minor presence, and the whole system of an endless string of clone emperors is original to the adaptation.
In 2019’sStar Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker, Ian McDiarmid’s controversial return of Emperor Palpatine brought the character back as a clone. So, beforeFoundationhad even aired its premiere in 2021,Star Warshad introduced its own clone emperor, a concept thatFoundationwould go on to use heavily.
Furthermore, the battle between Empire and the Foundation, while it exists in the books, has been altered in the TV show. Now, the centuries-long war looks and feels more like the conflict between the Empire and Rebels inStar Wars- onlyStar Warsgenerally isn’t a story that’s told over such a long space of time.
Foundation’s New Planet-Destroying Superweapon In Season 3 Also Links Back To Star Wars
The Novacula feels like Foundation’s version of the Death Star
Galactic empires and clones could arguably be credited to any number of sci-fi stories that predateStar Wars, so it’s not an especially watertight argument to attributeFoundation’s Genetic Dynastyor their rule coming to an end to George Lucas' space opera. On the other hand,Foundationseason 3, episode 2, “Shadows in the Math,” contains something that feels undeniably like aStar Warsreference.
What’s especially interesting is that the Novacula doesn’t appear in Isaac Asimov’sFoundationbooks, so it was added by the Apple TV+ adaptation.
“Shadows in the Math” reveals that Terrence Mann’sBrother Dusk has secretly commissioned a planet-killing superweaponknown as the Novacula, which draws its power from an ensnared black hole. What’s especially interesting is thatthe Novacula doesn’t appear in Isaac Asimov’sFoundationbooks, so it was added by the Apple TV+ adaptation.
So,Foundation’s apparent take on the Death Star feels especially obvious. On the other hand, the show has put its own spin on the iconic Imperial base. Firstly, the Novacula looks to require a lot more containment than the Death Star inStar Wars', andFoundation’s superweapon doesn’t so much reduce a planet to rubble as it does completely transform every molecule into something unrecognizable.
Foundation
Cast
Foundation is a science fiction film that follows a band of exiles on a crucial journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization as the Galactic Empire collapses.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
