Apple TV's highly anticipated For All Mankind spin-off, Star City, has finally premiered to rave reviews. Set in an alternate 1970s where the Soviet Union won the space race, the series follows Russian politicians, engineers, cosmonauts, and KGB agents overseeing further lunar missions. The first episode aired on Friday, 29th May, with six more episodes releasing weekly until the finale on 10th July.
The cast features several recognisable names. Welsh star Rhys Ifans leads as the Chief Designer, a secretive figure heading the Star City programme. Ifans is known for roles in House of the Dragon, Harry Potter, and The Amazing Spider-Man, and won a BAFTA for portraying Peter Cook in Not Only But Always.
Anna Maxwell Martin, best known for the sitcom Motherland, takes on a dramatically different role as Lyudmilla Raskova, head of Star City's KGB surveillance department. The Guardian has described her performance as 'terrifying'. Martin has also starred in Line of Duty, Ludwig, and Until I Kill You, winning an International Emmy for the latter, and has two BAFTA TV Awards for Bleak House and Poppy Shakespeare.
Agnes O'Casey plays Irina Morozova, a young KGB recruit. O'Casey has appeared in Dangerous Liaisons, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, and Netflix's Black Doves, as well as films Small Things Like These and The Miracle Club. Australian actress Alice Englert portrays Anastasia Belikova, an untested female cosmonaut. Englert's credits include Ginger & Rosa, Beautiful Creatures, and The Power of the Dog, directed by her mother Jane Campion.
Solly McLeod plays Sasha Polivanov, a reckless cosmonaut yet to fulfil his potential. McLeod is known for ITV's Tom Jones and appeared in House of the Dragon alongside Ifans. Adam Nagaitis portrays Valya Mironov, a respected cosmonaut, and previously played a Russian firefighter in HBO's Chernobyl. Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, daughter of Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis, also features in the cast.
