Manny the Movie Guy Goes Behind the Iron Curtain: Exclusive Interview with the Cast of Apple TV+’s Star City

In the ever-expanding universe of For All Mankind, Apple TV+ is taking viewers to a place few have explored in depth: the secretive, high-stakes world behind the Soviet Iron Curtain. The highly anticipated spin-off series Star City, which premieres on May 29, 2026, shifts the perspective from the American space program to the Soviet one, delivering a propulsive paranoid thriller filled with cosmonauts, engineers, and KGB surveillance officers racing for cosmic dominance.

Manny the Movie Guy, the popular entertainment journalist and YouTuber known for his in-depth celebrity interviews, sat down with key cast members for an exclusive conversation that pulls back the curtain on this ambitious project. The interviews, featured on his site, offer fascinating insights into character development, the challenges of portraying Soviet loyalty and paranoia, and how Star City flips the script on the For All Mankind (FAM) timeline.

The KGB Power Players: Anna Maxwell Martin and Agnes O’Casey

At the heart of the surveillance apparatus in Star City are two formidable women. Anna Maxwell Martin portrays Lyudmilla Raskova, the ruthless head of the Space Flight Training Center and a key figure in KGB oversight. Agnes O’Casey plays Irina Morozova, a fiercely intelligent addition to the surveillance team—a character familiar to FAM fans from later timelines but seen here in her earlier, formative years.

In Manny’s interview, the actresses delve into what it’s like to embody these high-stakes spies. They explore the moral complexities of characters who must balance duty to the Motherland with the human cost of constant surveillance. The conversation highlights how Star City portrays these women not just as antagonists but as intricate puppet masters navigating the dangerous politics of the Soviet space program.

The Power Couple Under Scrutiny: Ruby Ashbourne Serkis and Adam Nagaitis

Ruby Ashbourne Serkis and Adam Nagaitis portray Tanya and Valya Markelov, a complex married couple whose relationship is tested under the weight of heavy KGB monitoring. Manny’s sit-down with the pair uncovers the emotional layers of performing a marriage where loyalty to the state supersedes personal bonds.

The actors discuss Soviet paranoia in the isolated confines of Star City (the real-life Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center), the pressures of living in a fishbowl, and how their characters navigate love and ambition when every conversation could be monitored. Their insights paint a picture of a show that is as much a domestic and political drama as it is a space race thriller.

The Cosmonaut Perspective: Solly McLeod and Alice Englert

Solly McLeod steps into the role of the reckless cosmonaut Sasha Polivanov, while Alice Englert plays Anastasia Belikova. In their interview with Manny, the duo breaks down the intense physical and emotional demands of filming the Soviet side of the space race. They talk about building characters who are both heroic pioneers and pawns in a larger geopolitical game, and the excitement of expanding the FAM universe from a fresh Russian viewpoint.

Why Star City Matters in the For All Mankind Universe

Created by Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert, and Ronald D. Moore, Star City returns to the pivotal moment when the Soviets put the first man on the Moon in this alternate history. Unlike the decade-jumping format of the flagship series, this spin-off stays grounded in the 1970s for a more serialized, propulsive story.

The series stars an impressive ensemble including Rhys Ifans as the enigmatic Chief Designer, alongside the actors Manny interviewed. It promises to reveal the human stories, risks, and betrayals that powered the Soviet program—often more dangerous on the ground than in space.

Manny the Movie Guy’s interviews capture the cast’s enthusiasm for this bold expansion. From KGB intrigue to cosmonaut camaraderie, Star City delivers a fresh, darker lens on the space race that FAM fans have been waiting for.

Stream Star City starting May 29, 2026, on Apple TV+.

And for more exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and sci-fi insights, click here.