Apple TV’s ‘Star City’ expands the ‘For All Mankind’ universe
Apple TV’s ‘Star City’ expands the ‘For All Mankind’ universe
This paranoid thriller follows the cosmonauts, engineers, and intelligence officers behind the Soviet side of the space race.
“For All Mankind” is one of the shows that proves Apple TV’s sci-fi lane is no joke. The alt-history space-race drama has always had a great hook: what if the space race didn’t end the way we know it did? Now, Apple TV is expanding that world with “Star City,” a new Soviet-side thriller that goes back behind the Iron Curtain. Yep, instead of following the American side of the story, this one digs into the cosmonauts, engineers, and intelligence officers inside the Soviet space program. Here’s everything you need to know about “Star City” before it drops on Friday, May 29, on Apple TV.
Everything you need to know about ‘Star City’
When will episodes of ‘Star City’ come on Apple TV?
“Star City” premieres Friday, May 29, on Apple TV, with the first two episodes dropping right away. After that, new episodes roll out weekly every Friday through July 10, wrapping up an eight-episode season. So, yeah, this is one of those Apple shows where you can jump in early and follow along week to week, or wait until July and binge the whole thing in one paranoid Soviet space-race spiral.
Can you watch episodes of ‘Star City’ for free?
Sort of. Apple TV offers a seven-day free trial for new users, so you could technically check out the premiere without paying if you time it right. After that, you’ll need a subscription. The service costs $13 per month and keeps things simple with one main plan. You could always wait until all eight episodes are out and try to binge the whole thing during the free trial, but with a show tied to the “For All Mankind” universe, spoilers could get annoying fast.
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Watch the trailer for ‘Star City’
What is ‘Star City’ about?
“Star City” takes place in the same alt-history world as “For All Mankind,” but flips the perspective. Instead of staying focused on the American side of the space race, the series goes behind the Iron Curtain and follows the Soviet space program after the USSR becomes the first nation to put a man on the moon.
That’s the fun hook here. “For All Mankind” already rewrites history by imagining a world where the space race keeps escalating, and “Star City” gets to explore what that pressure looks like from the other side. The show centers on the cosmonauts, engineers, and intelligence officers inside the Soviet system, which means we’re probably getting a mix of ambition, paranoia, secrecy, and people trying to push humanity forward while surrounded by surveillance and political danger. Think a secretive space program, KGB presence, huge national stakes, and people risking everything in a system where failure could mean way more than just a failed mission.
Who stars in ‘Star City’?
Rhys Ifans leads the cast, and that’s a pretty great place to start. He’s joined by Anna Maxwell Martin, Agnes O’Casey, Alice Englert, Solly McLeod, Adam Nagaitis, Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, Josef Davies, and Priya Kansara.
The cast also has a nice “oh, I know them from that” quality. Ifans and McLeod both have “House of the Dragon” connections, Nagaitis appeared in “Chernobyl,” O’Casey was in “Black Doves,” Davies appeared in “Andor,” and Kansara has a “Bridgerton” credit. So, yep, Apple has put together a very serious ensemble for this one.
How does ‘Star City’ connect to ‘For All Mankind’?
“Star City” is officially set in the world of “For All Mankind,” but it isn’t just another season of the main show. It’s a spin-off that goes back to one of the biggest alt-history turning points in that universe: the Soviet Union beating the United States to the moon. It’s really an expansion of the “For All Mankind” world, with the same key creative team behind it: Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert, and Ronald D. Moore.
The biggest confirmed connection is creative and story-world-based. Nedivi, Wolpert, and Moore created “Star City,” and Wolpert and Nedivi serve as showrunners. That matters because they’re not just borrowing the “For All Mankind” label. They’re building a new chapter inside the same alternate-history timeline, this time from the Soviet point of view. As for cast crossover, the “Star City” cast list doesn’t currently include the main American “For All Mankind” cast members like Joel Kinnaman, Wrenn Schmidt, Krys Marshall, or Cynthy Wu. So, for now, don’t go in expecting this to be a cameo-heavy sequel.
Excited for ‘Star City’? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Star City
Step into a thrilling chapter inspired by For All Mankind. Same alt-history universe. Different perspective: the Soviet Union’s. Go behind the Iron Curtain with the cosmonauts, engineers, and intelligence officers who risked it all in the race for the Moon.