According to Deadline, Anna Maxwell Martin (The Bletchley Circle, Philomena) has been cast as a lead alongside Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill, The Amazing Spider-Man) in Star City, an upcoming spinoff series from Apple TV+ based on For All Mankind. Martin is an acclaimed two-time BAFTA Award winner for Bleak House and Poppy Shakespeare, making her a clear choice for the sequel series. The show presents an alternate-history take on the space race, centering on the Soviet Union’s historic first moon landing.

Star City was created by Ben Nedivi (The Umbrella Academy, Fargo), Matt Wolpert (Entourage, American Crime Story), and Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica). According to Deadline, the sequel space drama dives into life behind the Iron Curtain and explores the cosmonauts, engineers, and intelligence officers who played key roles in the Soviet space program. Martin will portray Lyudmilla, the head of KGB surveillance at Star City, while Ifans takes on the role of the Chief Designer.

Deadline reports Nedivi and Wolpert are also showrunners and executive producers. Joining them as executive producers are Moore and Maril Davis (Star Trek: Insurrection, Outlander) from Tall Ship Productions, as well as Steve Oster (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Grimm) and Andrew Chambliss (Once Upon a Time, Fear the Walking Dead). Like For All Mankind, which was recently renewed for a fifth season, Star City is produced by Sony Pictures Television for Apple TV+.

With a career spanning several critically acclaimed roles, Martin earned two BAFTAs and received additional nominations. Her recent projects include Until I Kill You on ITV and Ludwig on the BBC, where she starred opposite David Mitchell (Peep Show, That Mitchell and Webb Look). Deadline reports Martin is represented by United Agents in the UK and Felker Toczek Suddleson McGinnis Ryan. Fans cannot wait to see the well-regarded actress shine in Star City, bringing her talent to this exciting, historical space race story.