What makes The Mule the most terrifying force in Apple TV+’s Foundation? Details explored in depth

The Mule in Apple TV+’s Foundation is here to shake the galaxy. And then some. Season 3 of Foundation, which premiered on July 11, 2025, took a time jump of 152 years into the future and brought forth one of the more terrifying villians in the form of The Mule.

He is a mutant dictator with telepathic abilities, who is determined to destroy the Foundation and Empire to create his own new order. He would use his manipulative capabilities to control people, making him the biggest threat to the civilization.

The science fiction series follows the creation of Foundation by the renowned mathematician Hari Seldon (played by Jared Harris). He develops the Psychohistory, which can predict the future and help humanity after the fall of the galactic empire. The Mule is a mentalic with powerful capabilities. He wants to obstruct Seldon’s predications and create his own new empire. And he is ready to use any means necessary to achieve his goal.

Foundation is based on the bestselling book written by Isaac Asimov. The Mule first appeared in Season 2 of the Foundation in Gaal Dornick ‘s (played by Lou Llobell) vision, where he is showcased as a person with violent tendencies looking to conquer Foundation. Mikael Persbrandt played The Mule in Season 2. In Season 3 however, Game of Thrones fame Pilou Asbæk will be seen portraying the coveted villain.

What makes The Mule the most terrifying force in Apple TV+’s Foundation?

The Mule can control and influence the minds of anyone he encounters, making him one of the more feared characters. He will use his abilities to carry out his agenda against the Foundation and Empire. In Season 3 of the Foundation, he will be seen bringing chaos to the galaxy and taking over planets by manipulating people.

While The Mule finally takes the lead in Season 3, his entrance into the fictional world of Foundation was teased in the previous season. In Season 2, the character appears in the episode ‘A Glimpse of Darkness’. In Dornick’s vision of a future where the world is at war, she will meet The Mule. He is a maniacal warlord who wants to rule the galaxy and has managed to take over many planets. He seemed to be obsessed to learn about the Second Foundation.

Also referred to as the Warlord of Kalgan, The Mule is unpredictable, does not follow any rules and is essentially a glitch in Seldon’s plan. In the book, Foundation and Empire, he would masquerade as a clown in his own court to fool and control the Foundation. He would manipulate the Foundation members to wage a war and establish his own scheme of world domination.

In a special feature on Foundation on Apple TV+ YouTube, actor Asbæk speaks about the character. He described The Mule as,

“Epic, crazy, and fun… He (The Mule) wants to conquer the world, he wants to consume it and then he wants to burn it to the ground. He hates the Empire and Foundation…Through all the madness, he’s just a misunderstood character who wants a bit of love. You’re always on the edge of your seat. What is he going to do? Is he going to kiss me or kill me?”

Foundation is created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman. New episodes of Season 3 will release on every Friday on Apply TV+ with the finale, episode 10, set to air on September 12, 2025.

ALSO READ: “Sometimes it’s nice to be a little bit evil”: Pilou Asbæk on playing The Mule in Foundation Season 3

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