All Mankind creators discuss complex process of recasting characters for Star City

Apple TV’s For All Mankind spin-off, Star City, is gearing up to reintroduce some familiar characters, albeit with a new cast. This prequel is set in the 1960s/70s USSR, offering a unique perspective on the space race from the Soviet side after their historic moon landing in the alternate history series.

Fans can look forward to seeing younger versions of iconic For All Mankind characters like Irina Morozova and Sergei Nikulov, portrayed by Svetlana Efremova and Piotr Adamczyk in For All Mankind, and now by Agnes O’Casey and Josef Davies in Star City.

Co-creator and showrunner Matt Wolpert shared insights into the process of recasting these roles at a special screening with Radio Times. He mentioned the importance of finding actors who could capture the essence of the characters, while also highlighting the opportunity to explore the characters’ earlier years.

Both O’Casey and Davies spoke about drawing inspiration from the original actors’ performances to shape their portrayals of the younger characters in Star City. Davies emphasized the different energy of the younger Sergei and the experiences that shape him into the character fans know from For All Mankind.

O’Casey, during a Q&A session at the screening, touched on the journey of Irina Morozova from her youth to the powerful woman depicted in For All Mankind, emphasizing the growth and ambition of the character.

Joining O’Casey and Davies in the Star City cast are Anna Maxwell Martin, Rhys Ifans, Adam Nagaitis, Solly McLeod, Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, Alice Englert, and Priya Kansara.

Star City is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on May 29th, so mark your calendars. Make sure to add it to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app for daily TV recommendations and more. For all things sci-fi and more TV recommendations, check out the Radio Times Podcast.