Apple TV+ has premiered *Star City*, a spin-off of the series *For All Mankind* that presents a counter-factual space race from the Soviet perspective [1].
The series expands a popular alternative-history universe by shifting the focus to the USSR. By imagining a scenario where the Soviet Union wins the space race, the show explores the resulting political paranoia and tension within the Eastern Bloc [1, 3].
Set in the 1970s [2], the narrative centers on the Star City cosmonaut training center located near Moscow [2, 3]. The story diverges from actual history, such as the 1969 moon landing by Neil Armstrong [4], to create a high-stakes thriller environment [1, 3].
Anna Maxwell Martin stars in the series, and critics said her performance is terrifying [1]. Rhys Ifans also features prominently in the cast [2]. While some reports highlight Ifans as a lead, other reviews said Martin is the central figure of the production [1, 2].
This new series follows the original *For All Mankind* show, which first premiered in 2019 [4]. *Star City* premiered in 2026 and is now streaming worldwide [1, 4]. The production is described as a flawless thriller that flips the traditional space race narrative into a nightmare for its characters [3].
“Star City is an alternative-history space-race thriller from the Soviet perspective.”
The launch of *Star City* signifies Apple TV+'s strategy to build a cinematic universe around the 'For All Mankind' intellectual property. By shifting the perspective to the Soviet Union, the network is moving beyond the American-centric view of the space race to explore geopolitical themes of surveillance and state control during the Cold War.
