Disney+ is bringing some iconic American heroes to the small screen this October with The Right Stuff, a dramatic biopic about the early days of the U.S. space program, and the service has just released the show’s newest trailer. The Right Stuff follows the story of the original Mercury Seven astronauts: Scott Carpenter (James Lafferty), Gordon Cooper (Colin O’Donoghue), John Glenn (Patrick J. Adams), Gus Grissom (Michael Trotter), Wally Schirra (Aaron Staton), Alan Shepard (Jake McDorman), and Deke Slayton (Micah Stock). Disney+ and National Geographic have announced that the series will debut with a two-episode premiere on Oct. 9.
It is clear from the brand new footage that Disney+ subscribers are in for a wild ride with The Right Stuff, as this live-action historical series will show how the men went from being test pilots and servicemen to becoming the first-ever astronauts. It will also spotlight their personal lives, and the pressure that was put on them and their families as they forged a path for NASA and the future of space exploration. Additional cast members of The Right Stuff include Josh Cooke as Loudon Wainwright Jr., Patrick Fischler as Bob Gilruth, Shannon Lucio as Louise Shepard, Nora Zehetner as Annie Glenn, and Sacha Seberg as Wernher Von Braun. Jordan Woods-Robinson, Rachel Burttram, and Danny Strong also co-star.
Videos by PopCulture.com
The new series was produced by for National Geographic by Leonardo DiCaprio‘s Appian Way and Warner Bros. Television. Mark Lafferty (Castle Rock, Halt and Catch Fire) serves as showrunner, as well as an executive producer alongside DiCaprio and Appian Way’s Jennifer Davisson. Other executive producers include Will Staples (Shooter), Danny Strong (The Hunger Games franchise), Howard Korder (Boardwalk Empire) and Chris Long (The Americans).
The Right Stuff is based on the 1979 non-fiction book of the same name, by author and journalist Tome Wolfe. This is not the first adaptation of the book, as in 1983 Philip Kaufman (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Invasion of the Body Snatchers) wrote and directed a film based on the book, also under the same name. This film starred Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Sam Shepard, Fred Ward, Dennis Quaid and Barbara Hershey. The film was not considered to be a financial success, but it received widespread critical acclaim. It was nominated for eight Oscars at the 56th Academy Awards and won four.
Most Viewed
-
(Credit: NetPix / Getty Images) -
The cast of 'Bridesmaids' Rebel Wilson, Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne and director Paul Feig pose on the Red Carpet at the 'Bridesmaids' Sydney Premiere on June 15, 2011 at Hoyts George street in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by EL Pics/Getty Images) -
Gregory Adams / Getty Images -
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 23: Jodie Sweetin and Candace Cameron-Bure attend Nickelodeon's 2019 Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on March 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) -
Andy Garcia as Gallino and Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in Landman episode 3, season 2, streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+ -
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 30: Jack Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne and family members stop to view tributes to the late Ozzy Osbourne from fans at Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge as his funeral cortege travels through his home city of Birmingham on July 30, 2025 in Birmingham, England. The Black Sabbath frontman passed away on July 22nd at the age of 76. His death occurred just a little over two weeks after his final live performance at the 'Back to the Beginning' concert in his hometown of Birmingham. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
