Rhys Ifans, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi join us to discuss Star City, Apple TV’s ambitious companion series expanding the universe of For All Mankind through the perspective of the Soviet Union during the alternate-history space race.
Set behind the Iron Curtain, Star City explores the lives of cosmonauts, engineers, and intelligence officers working within the Soviet space program after the USSR becomes the first nation to land a man on the moon.
In this discussion, the cast and creators break down where the series fits within the For All Mankind timeline, building companion storytelling within an established universe, and exploring the paranoia and pressure shaping the Soviet side of the space race.
About STAR CITY
Expanding the world of For All Mankind, Star City revisits the alternate-history space race from inside the Soviet Union following its historic moon landing victory.
The series explores the hidden lives of the people operating behind one of humanity’s greatest scientific achievements, including cosmonauts, engineers, and intelligence officers navigating secrecy, political pressure, ambition, and survival.
Described as a paranoid thriller, Star City shifts the franchise into a darker and more espionage-driven direction while remaining deeply connected to the larger mythology established in For All Mankind.
Star City, the For All Mankind spin-off series, premieres on Apple TV on Friday, May 29, 2026
Watch the Full Interview
Topics Covered
- Where Star City fits within the timeline of For All Mankind
- Rhys Ifans’ approach to playing “The Chief Designer”
- Exploring the Soviet side of the alternate-history space race
- Building companion storytelling connected to For All Mankind
- Expanding the franchise alongside Apple TV
Exploring the Space Race Behind the Iron Curtain
While For All Mankind primarily focused on the American side of the alternate-history space race, Star City shifts the perspective toward the Soviet Union and the people operating inside one of the most secretive systems in the world.
That shift allows the series to explore themes of surveillance, paranoia, secrecy, loyalty, and political pressure through a much darker lens.
The result appears to be a more suspense-driven expansion of the franchise universe while still maintaining the emotional and scientific ambition audiences associate with For All Mankind.
Rhys Ifans as “The Chief Designer”
Rhys Ifans steps into the role of “The Chief Designer,” a key figure operating within the Soviet space program during one of the most politically dangerous moments of the alternate-history timeline.
The discussion explored Ifans’ approach to portraying a character navigating scientific ambition, political pressure, and the emotional weight of helping shape humanity’s future under constant scrutiny.
That tension appears central to both the character and the overall tone of the series.
Building a Companion Series Within an Established Universe
One of the major creative challenges surrounding Star City involved expanding the For All Mankind universe without simply repeating familiar storylines.
Wolpert and Nedivi discussed approaching the series as both a companion piece and a standalone story capable of deepening the larger mythology while introducing new emotional and political perspectives.
Rather than functioning as a direct continuation, Star City appears designed to broaden the scale and complexity of the franchise itself.
Expanding the FOR ALL MANKIND Franchise
The success of For All Mankind has allowed Apple TV to continue growing one of modern science fiction television’s most ambitious alternate-history worlds.
With Star City, the franchise expands beyond exploration and technological competition into espionage, political instability, and psychological tension operating behind the Soviet system.
That tonal evolution could help push the franchise into entirely new storytelling territory moving forward.
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