Academy Award-winner Troy Kotsur (CODA, Criminal Minds) is joining the cast of Foundation for the show’s upcoming third season. According to The Wrap, via ComicBook, Kotsur is undertaking the role of Preem Palver, a pivotal character in the 1952 novel Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov.

According to ComicBook, Kotsur is a journeyman actor, having appeared in a wide variety of roles on the screen and stage. His most notable role was in 2021’s CODA, where he would go on to win a bunch of awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His other roles include appearances in Scrubs, Criminal Minds, CSI: New York, and the final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, the latter of which he plays himself.

Foundation’s official season two synopsis is as follows: “More than a century after the season one finale, tension mounts throughout the galaxy in Foundation season two. As the Cleons unravel, a vengeful queen plots to destroy the empire from within. Hari, Gaal, and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with psionic abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: war with the Empire. The monumental adaptation of Foundation chronicles the stories of four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties, and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity.”

The second season saw the return of familiar faces such as Jared Harris (Mad Men, Chernobyl) as Hari Seldon, Lee Pace (The Hobbit, Halt and Catch Fire) as Brother Day, Lou Llobell (Voyagers, The Pilgrim) as Gaal Dornick, Leah Harvey (Les Misérables, Tuesday) as Salvor Hardin, Laura Birn (Lupaus, Purge) as Eto Demerzel, Cassian Bilton (The Devil’s Harmony, Shoal) as Brother Dawn, and Terrence Mann (Critters, Sense8) as Brother Dusk, via Comicbook. Additionally, the season introduced new talents to the series, including Isabella Laughland (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Black Mirror), Kulvinder Ghir (Goodness Gracious Me, Rita), Ella-Rae Smith (Clique, Into the Badlands), Holt McCallany (Mindhunter, The Iron Claw), Rachel House (Whale Rider, Boy), Nimrat Kaur (Peddlers, The Lunchbox), Ben Daniels (The Crown, Jupiter’s Legacy), and Dimitri Leonidas (The Monuments Men, Rosewater).

Recently, there have been internal changes following delays in filming season three, according to ComicBook. David S. Goyer (Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Dark Knight), the co-creator of the series, is stepping back from his role as showrunner, but will maintain his creative involvement as executive producer. Meanwhile, Bill Bost (Grace and Frankie, Altered Carbon), the executive producer, will relocate to Prague to oversee filming. Laurie Borg (Black Mirror, Sense and Sensibility), the line producer and co-executive producer for season two, is departing with Doug Moreno (Captain America: The First Avenger, Godzilla) assuming the line producer position. Goyer will continue to write and executive produce the series from Los Angeles. Production is slated to resume in early March. 

Apple TV+ renewed Foundation in December, with Goyer confirming that the character the Mule, introduced in season two, will take center stage, via ComicBook.

“I’m thrilled Apple has given us the opportunity to continue to chronicling Asimov’s pioneering galactic saga. This time, the stakes for Foundation and Empire are even higher as the Mule takes center stage along with fan-favorites Bayta, Toran, Ebling, and Magnifico Gigangus,” Goyer said at the time via ComicBook. 

“We have all been incredibly impressed with the ambitious, action-packed and imaginative adaptation that David and the rest of this gifted creative team and cast have brought to life with this premium sci-fi series from day one,” added Matt Cherniss (300: Rise Of An Empire, Sons of Anarchy), Apple TV+’s head of programming via ComicBook. “To watch Foundation become such a global hit has been beyond exciting with audiences around the world continuing to be captivated week after week by this dramatic and compelling journey to save humanity. We can’t wait for everyone to experience what is in store for characters old and new in season three.”

Both seasons of Foundation are available to stream on Apple TV.