Summary
Sci-fi fans may spot several parallels betweenFoundationandStar Wars, but there’s one connection in particular that’s impossible to ignore, withStar Warsintroducing the plot element to its saga just two years beforeFoundationbegan. There’s no denying that Apple TV+ has made manychanges to Isaac Asimov’sFoundationbooks, but the result has made the story far more accessible to modern audiences while also maintaining the scale and grandiosity.
Foundationseason 3’s confirmationmeans it can extend its universe’s timeline, which is already impressively long. The lengthy storytelling technique employed by the Apple TV+ space opera blends unusually well with its consistent core cast, and the coming run of episodes is set to continue that trend.Star Wars' three movie trilogies have resulted in countless characters coming and goingthrough the decades, although a few have been especially prominent throughout the franchise. One of the most controversial returns included a member of theStar Warselite, and it predates a key part of Apple TV+’s alterations to Asimov’s work.
Foundation’s 8 Best Scenes So Far, Ranked
Thanks to its captivating story and stunning visual effects, Foundation has become a hallmark of recent sci-fi TV shows through its best scenes.
Foundation Introduced A Clone Emperor Just Two Years After Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Did It
The Cleonic Dynasty lost the race to Palpatine’s resurrection
2019’sStar Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalkerbrought back Ian McDiarmid’s Emperor Palpatine for the finale of Disney’s trilogy. With the original Emperor perishing due to the betrayal of Darth Vader in 1983’sStar Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi,the version of Palpatine inThe Rise of Skywalkeris a clone of the original Imperial leader. While this wasn’t addressed in the movie,The Rise of Skywalker’s novelization confirms Palpatine is a cloneupon his return. Two years later,Foundationmade its debut on Apple TV+, which included not just one clone emperor, but many.
Known as Brother Dawn, Brother Day, and Brother Night, they are all identical to Cleon I at various stages of his life.
Foundation’s Genetic Dynastymeans there are always three active clones of the original emperor, Cleon I. Known as Brother Dawn, Brother Day, and Brother Night, they are all identical to Cleon I at various stages of his life. While there is a Cleon I in theFoundationsource material, he does not commission clones of himself to continue his legacy. That particular aspect of the story is unique to the live-action adaptation. So,Star Warsintroduced the concept of a clone emperor beforeFoundationhad the chance- but just barely.
Why Foundation’s Clone Emperors Worked A Lot Better Than Palpatine’s Return
Foundation’s clones are well-thought-out (& the Palpatine comeback feels rushed)
Palpatine’s death at theend ofReturn of the Jediultimately led to Anakin Skywalker’s redemption, shedding his Darth Vader moniker and his connection to the dark side of the Force in his final moments. Whilethe Emperor coming back as a clone could have worked under different circumstances, it was half-baked and very under-developed as an idea when it happened inThe Rise of Skywalker. This is encapsulated in the infamous line from Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron: “Somehow, Palpatinereturned.” The fact that the character’s comeback wasn’t directly explained in the movie also loses it additional points.
Foundation’s Clone Emperors are immaculately thought out, with the original character having roots in the source material.
Foundation’s Clone Emperors are immaculately thought out, with the original character having roots in the source material. The show has an advantage overStar Warsin that it isn’t a sequel, but an adaptation instead. So, there is less to worry about when it comes to disrupting canon and tarnishing the legacy of established characters.Every detail surrounding the show’s Cleonic Dynasty makes perfect sensewithin the boundaries of its fictional universe, and the constant rotation of Cleon clones means audiences get to see how the system evolves over time.
How Foundation & Star Wars Have Influenced Each Other
Attack of the Clones' Jango Fett twist may have also influenced Foundation’s Genetic dynasty
The story found in the originalFoundationbooks likely had at least a passing influence on George Lucas' saga, but now the opposite is undoubtedly true as well.Asimov’s series wasn’t the first space opera, but it was still one of the earliest to exist. The shared use of othersci-fi tropes like faster-than-light traveland advanced weaponry bring them even closer together than ever before. In addition,Foundation’s concept of cloning many versions of the same character for a specific purpose could be said to have been borrowed fromStar Wars' Jango Fett being replicated for the Republic’s army.
All 9 Cleons Shown In Foundation So Far (& How They Differ)
The Cleonic Dynasty is one of the best additions that Foundation made to Asimov’s work, but their identical appearances can make them hard to track.
While it could be argued thatStar Warswouldn’t exist in quite the same way without theFoundationbooks helping to lay some of the groundwork, the Apple TV+ adaptation of Asimov’s work also wouldn’t be the same if theStar Warsfranchise had never been created. Along withStar Trek,Star Warsis one of the properties most credited with popularizing live-action space operas. Therefore,Foundation’s visual aesthetic owes a lot toStar Warsand its other predecessors.
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.
