‘Foundation’ Star Brandon P. Bell on Sci-Fi Spycraft and the Power of Asimov

Foundation season three is closing in on its finale, but there’s still a trio of action-packed episodes to go. io9 got a chance to talk to Brandon P. Bell, who plays Captain Han Pritcher; he’s a new character this season but has a name Foundation book readers will immediately recognize.

On the Apple TV+ show based on the Isaac Asimov stories, Pritcher is entwined in multiple storylines. He’s the Foundation’s top intelligence officer, at least until he has a major falling-out with his boss. But he’s really aligned with the top-secret Second Foundation and—in addition to being an important source of outside-world intel for the isolated group of powerful psychics—is romantically involved with Second Foundation leader Gaal Dornick.

In the most recent episode, Pritcher has escaped imprisonment just as the Foundation was about to hand him over to the villainous Mule, who’s intent on learning where the Second Foundation has been hiding. What’s his next move? Bell wouldn’t divulge any spoilers, of course, but he did share more about his Foundation experience so far.

Cheryl Eddy, io9: Pritcher is an Asimov creation, though his story is changed a bit for the show. Did you read any of the Foundation books ahead of time as you were figuring out the character?

Brandon P. Bell: No. I was aware of Asimov, but I hadn’t read the Foundation series yet, and I hadn’t watched it yet. I just remember this grandiose trailer that Apple presented; it was in my queue, and I remember it being this gorgeous, insane show with these actors that I recognized. And so, when I got the role, there was a temptation to read. [For] a lot of the OG cast, for their roles, there’s not much there to draw from. However, with Pritcher, I would soon find out that he is very central to, especially, Foundation and Empire when the Mule drops in.

So I didn’t read the first two books until after [I finished working on] season three. I was not only impressed with how they brought Asimov’s vision to life, but I love the more complex take on Pritcher, as opposed to just the military uniform guy, the super intelligent undercover guy who has this tragic fate. I still haven’t read the third book, because I just want to wait.

But [reading the first two] made me a fan; I actually really enjoyed the books. I’ve heard so many different conflicting opinions on them … but it’s brilliant stuff that is so relevant today that was written over half a century ago.

io9: What was it like for you coming into Foundation as part of its third season? Did you study seasons one and two for context?

Bell: Of course. As soon as I got the email that [executive producer] David [S. Goyer] wanted to meet, obviously I had to do my homework. And I remember thinking episode one, season one of Foundation is one of the most breathtaking episodes of television I think I’ve ever seen. The world-building—it looked like they shot on location, which is not always the case—and this unique storytelling from the godfather of sci-fi himself was extremely exciting and enticing. I was hooked from episode one. I was really hooked. I’m a sci-fi fan, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it then and there.

io9: Pritcher is a mentalic, though he’s not as powerful as the Mule or Gaal. How do you think that ability shapes the way he reacts to things?

Bell: I think it gives him a bit more groundedness in terms of, “How can I accomplish my goals, my missions, without having to resort to this power that, from what we can see with the Mule, can manipulate and transform in the worst of ways?” Maybe [the powers can] give you this complex of being above others in a sense. I think Pritcher—and it’s different from the books, as you pointed out, that he is a mentalic—obviously, he has to keep his cover to not reveal that he is a part of the Second Foundation. That’s part of the Seldon Plan, keeping the Second Foundation hidden in secrecy as they move within the shadows. But I think he wants to stay grounded to the human element of using your wits, which Asimov was all about, from all of these amazing characters.

I love that about Pritcher: how do you compel, without powers, without psionic abilities, but simply by appealing to [someone’s] humanity, right? The [importance] of reaching our higher selves and wanting to do more with the privilege that we have to help those who need our help.

io9: Pritcher’s a double agent, as you mentioned—ostensibly part of the Foundation while secretly working for the Second Foundation. So far we haven’t gotten much backstory on him. How do you think he got to the place he’s at when season three begins?

Bell: So we’re in episode seven… [pauses to ponder spoilers]. You will learn more. Pritcher says in episode six, “I’m loyal to the Seldon Plan.” But there’s also a reason. It’s not just blind loyalty. He has a very deep emotional connection to Hari [Seldon] and Gaal [Dornick] and Preem [Palver], his people, the mentalics. But also the humanistic side of Pritcher is so endearing. He wants to do good for the sake of goodness. He’s romantic because he knows the importance of humanity and not losing oneself in spite of everything that’s going on, which is how Empire and the galaxy came to be in the place that they’re in. So you will find that out—to be revealed—but he’s just a man doing his job, is what I can say.

io9: His relationship with Gaal is sweet but not without conflict—she’s certain her visions foretell the future and he’s not convinced things are set in stone. What do you think binds them together amid these circumstances?

Bell: The shared history, their cultural background in terms of being mentalics on Ignis. It’s a strange group of outliers who have to live amongst themselves and figure out ways to help preserve humanity. Being mathematicians—it’s a planet full of a bunch of nerds who can reach each others’ minds. You can’t really lie to one another because you’re aware of what’s going on. And so I think that open, honest dedication to this higher cause is what binds them. He’s a fan, obviously, and an admirer of Gaal, her legendary status, or mythic status, if you will.

[To have them be the same age] in terms of her wake cycles when the Mule comes was just kind of the perfect pairing up of the two, and that’s why he holds her so close to his heart, because he knows that things are going to potentially be so dire. Pritcher believes that things can change, similar to [Gaal’s daughter, Salvor, as seen in season two], and that definitely creates an interesting dynamic here. But it brings them close together for obvious reasons too.

io9: From the very beginning of the season, he’s in a huge clash with Indbur, the mayor of New Terminus, over taking the Mule seriously, leading to the events that see him being put in jail over it. What’s going on in his headspace as he’s being forced into that position?

Bell: It’s frustrating to have, like, the answers to the test and not be able to reveal why you have the answers but to know that I can help you pass the test. It’s frustrating because Ingbar is hard-headed. He is a fool. He is a career politician who doesn’t take his job seriously … It’s like, “I told you so. If you had just listened—how do you think I became the captain of information? I didn’t compel you with powers. It was reason. It was risking my life to bring you intel and you’re just going to sit on it and eat your candies and pretend like the Mule isn’t an existential threat. What is going on?”

So it’s frustrating because Pritcher’s like, “This could have been prevented.” But at the same time, the frustration comes from not being able to reveal his powers or where he comes from because that would ruin the Seldon Plan. So just frustration and not so much anger because Pritcher knows what he got himself into. It’s just frustration at being in this weird spot as this kind of shadow player—not being able to really explain why you’re here and why you know what you know.

io9: This week, of course, we see that he escapes, barely getting away from the Mule. But he doesn’t go far—he sticks around to help with the fight. Can you tease what’s in store for the rest of the season?

Bell: I think the quote is said [in the show], right? You find out someone’s true character when they are tested or when they go through trials and tribulations. The next three episodes really show that for Pritcher: who he is, the heroic side. But I think the inklings that everyone has had about who he is come to fruition in these final episodes in a really beautiful way in terms of, like, how resourceful is this guy? Yes, he knows a lot, but let’s see it in action. You really get to see that. So I’m excited for people to see it.

New episodes of Foundation arrive Fridays on Apple TV+.

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