Stephen King’s chilling 2019 novel The Institute is headed to television this summer, and MGM+ has officially announced the premiere date alongside a batch of haunting first-look images and key art.

The eight-episode limited series will debut July 13 at 9PM ET/PT on MGM+, bringing King’s blend of supernatural horror and dark conspiracy to the small screen.

Mary-Louise Parker leads the cast as the coldly charismatic Ms. Sigsby, director of the mysterious Institute. She’s joined by Ben Barnes as troubled ex-cop Tim Jamieson, Joe Freeman as 12-year-old prodigy Luke Ellis, and Simone Miller, Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway, Julian Richings, Robert Joy, and Martin Roach rounding out the ensemble.

The Story

When young genius Luke Ellis is kidnapped in the middle of the night, he wakes up in a hidden facility known only as The Institute—a place where children with extraordinary abilities are held against their will. Luke soon discovers he’s not alone, as other abducted kids with similar powers have also been brought to the facility under disturbing circumstances.

Meanwhile, in a quiet nearby town, ex-police officer Tim Jamieson attempts to escape his past. But his path is destined to collide with Luke’s in a battle between sinister control and defiant resistance.

A Dark Connection to King’s Universe

Series creator Benjamin Cavell (Justified, The Stand) teases a deeper tie to King lore:

“These are kids with ‘The Shine’—telekinetic abilities like in The Shining—being kidnapped by a shadowy organization. But there’s no outside hero here. The children must rely on each other and their own powers to survive and escape.”

Directed by Jack Bender (Mr. Mercedes, Lost) and produced by MGM+ Studios, The Institute promises a gripping blend of suspense, sci-fi, and psychological horror.

With July fast approaching, fans can expect a full trailer soon. Until then, these early images offer a tantalizing glimpse into the nightmare waiting behind the Institute’s locked doors.