With Foundation season 3 now arriving on screens, The Mule has arrived in full force to wield his influence over Empire and Foundation alike.
The arrival of the villainous telepath has been teased over the past few seasons, with visions teeing up a showdown between him and Lou Llobell's Gaal Dornick. Now, the time has come.
The character, who first appeared in Isaac Asimov's novella 1945 novella The Mule, is the most powerful and menacing adversary that Foundation and Empire have had to face.
While he did appear briefly in season 2, he's since undergone a recast since we last saw him. Here's everything you need to know.
Who plays The Mule in Foundation season 3 after recast?
The Mule is now played by Game of Thrones star Pilou Asbæk. He took over from Mikael Persbrandt, who played The Mule in season 2.
Speaking about taking over the role, Asbæk told RadioTimes.com: "It's always difficult to be in the footsteps of an incredible actor as Mikael. But us Scandinavians, we stick together and we collaborate.
"It's always tricky when you're working with something that is so loved by so many people over the world. I've tried it before – I did it on Game of Thrones as well. It's a little bit tricky, but it's also a challenge that you like."
As for what we can expect from his incarnation of The Mule? Asbæk rejects the notion that he's a villain, instead telling us that he's "a bit misunderstood."
"He's got a lot of weakness," Asbæk assed. "Maybe his ego is his weakness. Power corrupts – the more power you get, the more it will corrupt you...he's a product of other people's decisions, if that makes sense."
Asbæk is best known for his role as Euron Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, appearing from season 6 onwards, but he's also appeared in Danish TV series including The Killing and Borgen.
On the big screen, Asbæk has starred opposite Scarlett Johansson in 2014's Lucy, as well as taking on roles in the 2017 remake of Ben-Hur and in Ghost in the Shell.
He appeared in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, as well as the film adaptation of Stephen King's Salem's Lot.
Who is The Mule in Foundation season 3?
The Mule, also known as the Warlord of Kalgan, is a powerful mentalic and telepath intent on conquering the galaxy.
We've already seen him appear in season 2, with Gaal seeing him kill her daughter Salvor (Leah Harvey) in a vision.
However, as the final episode of the season revealed, this vision wouldn't come true as Salvor was killed 150 years earlier than the vision depicted, at the hands of a mentalic still under the spell of Tellem (Rachel House) rather than The Mule.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Gaal actress Llobell opened up about the different ways in which she and Asbæk viewed Gaal and The Mule's relationship.
"His approach to it was so different to mine because he's chasing and Gaal's running," she explained.
"He said to me once, I'm thinking about it in almost in a romantic way, like [The Mule] is obsessed with [Gaal], like 'I just need to know you'...and I didn't. For me, it was like, he's the biggest danger, he is more powerful than I am, and he's more powerful than any of us will ever be.
"And that's a scary thought because, after him, the math stops working. What is everything that Gaal has lived through been for, if it just ends after that?"
Why was The Mule recast in Foundation season 3?
The reasons for the recast have not been made public.
It's possible that Persbrandt was not available for further seasons, or that his appearance was only ever intended to be brief for season 2.
Foundation season 3 will premiere on 11th July 2025 on Apple TV+.
Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
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