INDIANAPOLIS — The race toward space discovery continues in the fourth season of Apple TV+'s "For All Mankind."
"It jumps off with trying to change the basic course of history. It changes one detail: instead of the U.S. winning the space race — and in effect, ending it — our show starts with the Russians are first on the moon. That kicks off an alternate timeline that accelerates the rate of innovation," actor Joel Kinnaman ("House of Cards," "Suicide Squad") said on the premise of the sci-fi drama.
In the fourth season, NASA astronauts have colonized the moon and Mars, and are reaching further into space.
"The seven-season vision of this show takes us from the space race and then gives the unofficial handoff to 'Star Trek,'" Kinnaman said.
The storyline in the first season began in 1969 — with each subsequent season taking place 10 years later.
"You have to reinvent the character for every season," Kinnaman said. "If you think about yourself, who you were 10 years ago and how you looked at the world, you're a different person."
Actresses Cynthy Wu ("American Vandal") and Coral Peña ("The Post") joined the cast in the second season, portraying Kelly Baldwin and Aleida Rosales, respectively.
"When I joined in Season 2, I knew there was so much more room for the character. I knew I could make a bold choice for the character at 22 because we could see them grow," Peña said. "Rarely do actors have an opportunity to grow their character in this way."
According to NASA, 12 people have walked on the moon — and they have all been white men. With "For All Mankind" taking an alternate spin on history, the show is able to expand representation to include women, people of color and LGBTQ+ astronauts.
"What we think is unimaginable is possible, and we make it happen," Wu said. "It's ambitious in that it challenges social norms, and it's ambitious in that nothing is impossible."
New episodes of "For All Mankind" stream Fridays on Apple TV+.