What if the Russians beat the United States to the moon?
Thats the scenario that sets the stage forJoel Kinnamans newApple TV+ seriesFor All Mankind.
At the height of the space race, NASA was being afforded 10 percent of the national budget.
Apple
It was the peak of innovation.
Everything in the whole society was driving towards expanding into space.
But it was a crisis project that was all around beating the Soviets, explains the actor.
And then when the U.S. landed on the moon and we won the space race, everything deescalated.
The program got defunded, and we havent been back since.
This creates a scenario where the space race continues.
How do things change because of all that?
In our history, Ted Kennedy does not go to Chappaquiddick.
He cancels the trip to go to Washington, and so Nixons team is worried hes going to run.
Theres a lot to explore when you start to consider how life would be different.
The world is real, says Kinnaman.
It feels like thisMad Menworld, but where it all keeps expanding.
He was literally one of the first people brought on after the writers.
He has all that, but theres this other side thats sensitive and a guy who has doubts.
There are layers that he brought to the character.
I mean, it is his generation.
He said it was the most surreal thing hes ever been a part of.
It was 10 times worse than it is now.
The space race was something that was unifying for all of humanity.
I think that showing a positive example can be very powerful too.
I think thats what this show is trying to do.
Its trying to inspire by showing a positive example.
For All Mankindlaunches on Apple TV+ on Nov. 1.
