Lee Pace's Foundation Season 4 Role Makes Me Wonder How Involved He'll Actually Be
By Dan Bibby
October 13th, 2025
[Updated November 2nd, 2025]
[Updated November 2nd, 2025]
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Foundation's season 3 finale!
Lee Pace has been one of the biggest stars throughout Foundation's run so far, but his role within the Apple TV+ production is changing in an interesting way when it returns. While I'm apprehensive about Foundation season 4's substantial behind-the-scenes changes, I'm still looking forward to seeing what's next for the live-action adaptation of Isaac Asimov's iconic literary space opera.
The twist that saw Terrence Mann's Brother Darkness bringing an end to the Cleonic Dynasty in Foundation season 3's finale sets up a very different sort of continuation for the saga. While the books were never afraid to leave waves of characters behind and move forward with no real constant heroes or villains, the adaptation has found cool ways to keep certain figures involved, despite the sizable time jumps. Lee Pace is included in this group, but I'm genuinely wondering how extensively he'll be contributing in Foundation season 4.
The twist that saw Terrence Mann's Brother Darkness bringing an end to the Cleonic Dynasty in Foundation season 3's finale sets up a very different sort of continuation for the saga. While the books were never afraid to leave waves of characters behind and move forward with no real constant heroes or villains, the adaptation has found cool ways to keep certain figures involved, despite the sizable time jumps. Lee Pace is included in this group, but I'm genuinely wondering how extensively he'll be contributing in Foundation season 4.
Brother Day May Not Return In Foundation Season 4 (But Lee Pace Will)
Lee Pace's most recent version of Brother Day, Cleon XXIV, very much appears to meet his end in Foundation's season 3 finale, "The Darkness." Sure, the Clone Emperors haven't typically been met with permanent demises in Foundation, but with Brother Darkness destroying all the backup clones and relevant Imperial tech, I struggle to see much of a way forward for the late Cleon XXIV, or any version of Pace's character that would normally follow.
However, Radio Times reports that Lee Pace is still expected to be part of Foundation season 4. Sadly, the only news we have of his involvement at the moment relates to a behind-the-scenes role as he prepares to receive the first producer credit of his impressive career in the industry so far. It makes sense that Pace hasn't also been announced as a member of Foundation season 4's cast, and it's reasonable to assume he never will.
That said, in a recent interview with Collider during a press tour for The Running Man, Pace used some pretty coy wording that suggests he won't JUST be producing Foundation season 4. While talking about the show's plans to ramp up the intensity as Asimov did in the source material, Pace said: "I'm very excited about what my character is going to do next season." This very much makes it seem as though he'll be reprising some version of his Foundation role.
However, Radio Times reports that Lee Pace is still expected to be part of Foundation season 4. Sadly, the only news we have of his involvement at the moment relates to a behind-the-scenes role as he prepares to receive the first producer credit of his impressive career in the industry so far. It makes sense that Pace hasn't also been announced as a member of Foundation season 4's cast, and it's reasonable to assume he never will.
That said, in a recent interview with Collider during a press tour for The Running Man, Pace used some pretty coy wording that suggests he won't JUST be producing Foundation season 4. While talking about the show's plans to ramp up the intensity as Asimov did in the source material, Pace said: "I'm very excited about what my character is going to do next season." This very much makes it seem as though he'll be reprising some version of his Foundation role.
How Lee Pace COULD Return In An On-Screen Foundation Season 4 Role (If It's Not As Cleon XXIV)
It's nice to know someone who has been involved since Foundation's first episode will be sticking around in some capacity, but I'm even happier with the possibility that Pace could come back as a member of the cast in season 4. Thankfully, this is sci-fi we're dealing with here, so there are multiple possibilities when it comes to how Pace's on-screen involvement can overcome Brother Darkness' game-changing act of violence against Cleon XXIV and the Dynasty at large.
One possibility is that Pace will return not as Cleon XXIV, but as an older version of Cleon XXV, who was played by Cassian Bilton throughout Foundation season 3. It would admittedly take a pretty small time jump by Foundation's standards for this to be a possibility, but I wouldn't rule it out. Cleon XXV/Brother Dawn survived the events of the season 3 finale, so while Pace's potential version of the character could show up in season 4, it's important to remember Dawn's brutal leg injuries and his lack of Imperial-level medical care.
Another possibility is that Lee Pace will only appear in memories and flashback sequences. This feels a little less likely, as there will need to be someone alive in Foundation season 4 who is old enough to remember any version of Cleon played by Pace. Lou Lloubell's Gaal Dornick is one such character, but she hasn't spent much facetime with any Pace-portrayed Cleon. Flashbacks provide a better chance, as long as they aren't being "remembered" by any of the other characters. Generally, Foundation doesn't tend to show the distant past unless it's through a living character's eyes.
I'm going to REALLY stretch the bounds of what's possible now. If you'll cast your minds back to the Foundation season 2 finale, Cleon XIII managed to flee Trantor to live out his existence with Queen Sareth (Ella Rae-Smith) as they expected their first child. Cleon XIII could have used the same tech as Gaal to put himself and his new family into cryo-stasis at some point, with the plan to emerge when Empire has fallen.
With all other clone emperors presumably dead by the time of season 4's first episode, it would make sense if my theory is followed to its logical conclusion and Cleon XIII is now active again, if not a little older. This would open the door for Lee Pace's return as he inherits the role from Bilton. Alternatively, but not unrelated to this final theory, Pace could be playing Cleon XIII's descendant in Foundation season 4 — the family resemblance would be evident, after all. I know it's a stretch, but I don't think I can be blamed for wanting Pace to come back to the cast for Foundation season 4.
One possibility is that Pace will return not as Cleon XXIV, but as an older version of Cleon XXV, who was played by Cassian Bilton throughout Foundation season 3. It would admittedly take a pretty small time jump by Foundation's standards for this to be a possibility, but I wouldn't rule it out. Cleon XXV/Brother Dawn survived the events of the season 3 finale, so while Pace's potential version of the character could show up in season 4, it's important to remember Dawn's brutal leg injuries and his lack of Imperial-level medical care.
Another possibility is that Lee Pace will only appear in memories and flashback sequences. This feels a little less likely, as there will need to be someone alive in Foundation season 4 who is old enough to remember any version of Cleon played by Pace. Lou Lloubell's Gaal Dornick is one such character, but she hasn't spent much facetime with any Pace-portrayed Cleon. Flashbacks provide a better chance, as long as they aren't being "remembered" by any of the other characters. Generally, Foundation doesn't tend to show the distant past unless it's through a living character's eyes.
I'm going to REALLY stretch the bounds of what's possible now. If you'll cast your minds back to the Foundation season 2 finale, Cleon XIII managed to flee Trantor to live out his existence with Queen Sareth (Ella Rae-Smith) as they expected their first child. Cleon XIII could have used the same tech as Gaal to put himself and his new family into cryo-stasis at some point, with the plan to emerge when Empire has fallen.
With all other clone emperors presumably dead by the time of season 4's first episode, it would make sense if my theory is followed to its logical conclusion and Cleon XIII is now active again, if not a little older. This would open the door for Lee Pace's return as he inherits the role from Bilton. Alternatively, but not unrelated to this final theory, Pace could be playing Cleon XIII's descendant in Foundation season 4 — the family resemblance would be evident, after all. I know it's a stretch, but I don't think I can be blamed for wanting Pace to come back to the cast for Foundation season 4.
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