How Apple TV’s New Sci-Fi Spinoff Series Tweaks The Canon Of 6-Part Hit Explained By Star City Cast & Creators

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Apple TV has begun building a shared universe with its new show, Star City, and in doing so, has made some changes to the established storyline.

The new series, created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi, is a spin-off of their popular sci-fi show, For All Mankind. This time, the story focuses on the Soviet Union and what happens after they win the Space Race by landing cosmonauts on the Moon. While celebrating their victory, the Soviet government starts planning future missions, but also becomes increasingly worried about spies and internal conspiracies, leading to a climate of distrust.

Rhys Ifans, known for his work on House of the Dragon, heads up the cast of the new series Star City, playing the Soviet Union’s Chief Designer. He’s joined by Anna Maxwell Martin, Solly McLeod, Adam Nagaitis, Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, and Agnes O’Casey, who takes over the role of Irina Morozova. Alice Englert now plays Anastasia Belikova, and Josef Davies is Sergei Nikulov. Critics are already praising the show, giving it a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Before Star City premiered, Liam Crowley from ScreenRant spoke with the cast and creators – Rhys Ifans, Matt Wolpert, Ben Nedivi, Anna Maxwell Martin, Agnes O’Casey, Solly McLeod, and Alice Englert. Wolpert explained that while creating a spinoff, they wanted to build on the world of For All Mankind without contradicting established storylines. He said their goal was to maintain a consistent universe, even though the new show wouldn’t focus on the same events as the original.

As a huge fan, I always appreciate when creators respect the established lore, and one of the things the co-creator mentioned that really helped with that was the atmosphere of secrecy surrounding Star City. Apparently, the idea was that the Americans weren’t really clued in on what was happening behind the Iron Curtain. This allowed him, Nedivi, and the writing team to tell their own stories, independent yet still featuring familiar faces and characters – it was a clever way to expand the universe without messing things up!

With this season, we explore the origins of Irina Morozova, showing her early years and rise within the KGB, and Sergei Nikulov as a young engineer mentored by the Chief Designer. While it shares some storytelling elements with ‘For All Mankind,’ we wanted this series to stand on its own and have its own unique identity.

The KGB’s Goals & The Soviet Space Program’s Will Be At Odds In Star City

ScreenRant asked if Sasha seems like a confident, even boastful, cosmonaut who prefers to work alone. They wondered if, at this point in the story, he’s more focused on his own goals than on the success of the overall mission.

Solly McLeod believes that, like all the characters, even under a harsh government, there’s a natural sense of patriotism and duty ingrained in them from growing up in that world. His character, in particular, is a soldier with a background in the Air Force. McLeod sees his bold, sometimes reckless behavior as both a rebellion against the authorities and a way of holding himself back. He understands the dangers of space travel in the Soviet capsules – there’s no safety net, and the characters feel like they aren’t valued. McLeod thinks the character’s confidence is partly a mask for his underlying fear and awareness of the risks.

Alice Englert: And they make an effort to let them know that they’re expendable.

Absolutely. It’s a tough spot to be in, and I think his confidence actually comes from feeling insecure. He seems cocky, but it’s probably a way of masking his doubts.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Anna was asked about her role as the head of the KGB Surveillance Department and how the KGB’s goals related to the Soviet Space Program. The interviewer wanted to know if the two entities were in conflict or if they collaborated.

Anna Maxwell Martin explained that there’s a clear conflict between her character and the one played by Rhys. He wants freedom to express himself, while she enforces the state’s orders. Essentially, she’s protecting Star City’s security, meaning she needs to prevent leaks and anyone from sabotaging their plans – especially those connected to the West. Her biggest concern is the Americans – specifically, the possibility of spies or infiltration. Her entire role is focused on maintaining that security.

Be sure to dive into some of our other Star City coverage with:

  • Ben Nedivi explaining the change in genres from For All Mankind‘s sci-fi focus
  • Angus O’Casey, Solly McLeod and Alice Englert on how the show’s recastings benefit the spinoff
  • Rhys Ifans teasing the Chief Designer’s true goals and morals in Star City

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2026-05-30 00:49