Co-creator of one of Apple TV Plus's best sci-fi shows steps down over season 3 budget clash

Lee Pace in Foundation season 2 trailer
(Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Foundation co-creator David S. Goyer has stepped back from his showrunner duties on the Apple TV Plus sci-fi show due to clashes over budget, The Hollywood Reporter has claimed.

Ahead of season 3 production resuming on March 6, Goyer, who is perhaps best known for penning Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy, has scaled back his responsibilities and will concentrate solely on writing from now on. Instead, producer Bill Bost will take the reins, moving to Prague to oversee the third chapter's shoot. It had already been confirmed that Goyer was unlikely to direct any of the new episodes, despite having helmed three episodes across seasons 1 and 2.

Interestingly, though, the publication states that Goyer will still retain his showrunner title, despite earlier reports of the contrary. It is believed that over half of the next installment was filmed before the industry strikes halted everything last summer.

In addition, line producer Laurie Borg is stepping down, with Doug Moreno taking his place.

Foundation's first season is said to have cost around $45 million to make, which works out around $4.5m per episode – and season 2 presumably cost a little more. According to THR, the show's production company Skydance was hoping to lower budgets this time around, and Goyer wasn't too keen on the idea. 

Based on Isaac Asimov's award-winning novels, the lavish series charts the stories of four individuals, who travel across space and time, while navigating deadly crises, tense political climates, and complicated personal relationships that have the power to determine the fate of humanity. Leah Harvey, Terrence Mann, Jared Harris, and Lee Pace star.

Foundation is streaming now on Apple TV Plus. For more, check out our list of the best Apple TV Plus shows available to stream right now.

Amy West

I am an Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, covering all things TV and film across our Total Film and SFX sections. Elsewhere, my words have been published by the likes of Digital Spy, SciFiNow, PinkNews, FANDOM, Radio Times, and Total Film magazine.

Read more
Adam Scott as Mark and Britt Lower as Helly in Severance season 2
Severance creator explains why reading fan theories about the Apple TV show can be so "overwhelming": "Sometimes I have to stop"
Britt Lower as Helly R and Adam Scott as Mark S in Severance season 2
The reaction to Severance season 1 was so intense, creator Dan Erickson said he had to start therapy to process "all the wonderful feelings"
Adam Scott as Mark Scout and Britt Lower as Helly Riggs during the Severance season 2 trailer.
Severance season 3 is currently being worked on as Ben Stiller reveals they already have "an end" planned for the hit Apple show
Severance
Severance creator Dan Erickson talks keeping the acclaimed show's spark alive in season 2: "It's not just that it's still there - I think it's better"
Severance season 2 trailer
Severance season 2: Release dates, episodes, review, and everything you need to know about Apple TV Plus show's return
Noel Fielding in The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin
The next season of an Apple TV Plus fan-fave show has been cancelled as it "cannot be salvaged" after its star suddenly pulled out three quarters of the way through filming
Latest in Sci-Fi Shows
Alien Earth teaser
New Alien: Earth teaser introduces us to new cast members and the cutest little cat – and if a Xenomorph eats it, I will be furious
The Last of Us
The Last of Us season 2 is giving a game character the Bill and Frank treatment – and he's so deep-cut you might barely remember him
The Last of Us season 2 first look
Pedro Pascal says "beautiful" scene that made him want to join The Last of Us got cut, but it’ll thankfully appear in season 2: "He was like, ‘That’s half the reason I’m here!’"
Diego Luna in Andor
It looks like a key Star Wars event mentioned in Rebels will be shown in Andor season 2
Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who season 2
Doctor Who fans think they've spotted a tease for surprise villains in new season 2 trailer
The Xenomorph in Alien: Earth
New look at Alien: Earth has fans theorizing over whether they can hear a Predator in the background
Latest in News
Daredevil recap: The Defenders
Marvel fans are discussing which of the Netflix series characters would have survived the Blip
A misty, forested mountainside in Prologue: Go Wayback!
PUBG creator's wilderness survival game actually draws inspiration from an unexpected place - a whole raft of zombie games like DayZ, Project Zomboid, and Left 4 Dead
The Blood of Dawnwalker: A screenshot of the vampire Brencis holding up a crown during the trailer for the upcoming game.
The Witcher 3 devs created a Jekyll & Hyde-style character for their new vampire RPG "because nobody yet has done that"
Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil fans are wondering if Born Again season 2 will set up a darker comic book arc for Matt Murdock
Theo James as Hal in Osgood Perkins' The Monkey
It might only be March, but Stephen King adaptation The Monkey is now the highest grossing horror movie of 2025
Balatro screenshot showing an assortment of card packs
Balatro creator initially considered a Steam release in part to help "get a game developer job somewhere," and after 5 million sales I'd say he found one