The Right Stuff will be arriving on October 9th on Disney+ with a two-episode premiere. Starring Patrick J. Adams, Jake McDorman, Colin O’Donoghue, James Lafferty, Aaron Staton, Michael Trotter and Micah Stock, The Right Stuff tells the story of the United States’ first astronauts.
The eight-episode season is based on the book by Tom Wolfe. It will take a look at the beginning of the space program in the United States along with the astronauts that were a part of it, the Mercury 7. The Right Stuff is produced for National Geographic by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Warner Bros. Television. This is a realistic look at America’s first “reality show.” The astronauts of this era and their families were instant celebrities. Just like many celebrities, they found themselves competing for fame, money, and top billing for what would become history. Below is a trailer for The Right Stuff. Check it out and then share what you think about this upcoming series!
The Right Stuff – Official Trailer
The Right Stuff Description
At the height of the Cold War in 1959, America fears it is a nation in decline as the Soviet Union dominates the space race. But, the U.S. government has a solution – put a man in space. Newly-formed NASA is given the monumental task, and a group of the nation’s best engineers estimate they’ll need decades to accomplish the feat…but they only have two years.
NASA engineers, including rocket scientist Bob Gilruth (Patrick Fischler) and the passionate Chris Kraft (Eric Ladin), work against the clock under mounting pressure from Washington. Together, they hand select seven astronauts from a pool of military test pilots. These are ordinary men, plucked from obscurity, and within days of being presented to the world, they are forged into heroes before they achieve a single heroic act.
The two men at the center of it all are Major John Glenn (Patrick J. Adams), a revered Marine test pilot and committed family man, and Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard (Jake McDorman), one of the best test pilots in Navy history. Other members of the Mercury 7 include Captain Gordo Cooper (Colin O’Donoghue), the youngest of the seven selected to everyone’s surprise; Wally Schirra (Aaron Staton), a competitive pilot with a gift for pulling pranks; Scott Carpenter (James Lafferty), dubbed “The Poet” by the other astronauts; Deke Slayton, (Micah Stock), a taciturn but incredibly intelligent pilot and engineer; and Gus Grissom, (Michael Trotter), a decorated military veteran who eventually becomes the second man in space.
The series also examines the astronauts’ families, including Annie Glenn (Nora Zehetner), who contends with a speech impairment inthe public eye; Louise Shepard (Shannon Lucio), a wife and mother who refuses to let Alan’s transgressions affect her home; and Trudy Cooper (Eloise Mumford), an accomplished pilot who puts her own ambitions aside to present the image of a happy family.
Set during a time when many wondered whether America’s glory days were behind it, “The Right Stuff”is an aspirational story about ambition and exploration and how ordinary human beings can achieve the extraordinary.
Showrunner Mark Lafferty (“Castle Rock,” “Halt and Catch Fire”) serves as executive producer along with Appian Way’s Jennifer Davisson and Leonardo DiCaprio, in addition to Will Staples (“Animals,” “Shooter”), Emmy® winner Danny Strong (“Empire,” “The Hunger Games” movies, “Game Change”), Howard Korder (“Boardwalk Empire”) and Chris Long (“The Americans,” “The Mentalist”) who directed and executive produced the first episode. Academy Award® winner Thelma Schoonmaker (“Raging Bull,” “GoodFellas,” “The Departed”) is consulting producer and Michael Hampton shepherded this project on behalf of Appian Way and is co-producer.
What do you think of The Right Stuff so far? Are you looking forward to seeing it on Disney+ on October 9th? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below or with DAPS MAGIC on Facebook or Twitter!
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