The Mercury Seven

Tom Wolfe’s amazing non-fiction book about the beginning years of the space program, The Right Stuff, will soon be a TV series. It’s being shepherded by Leonardo DiCaprio and his production company Appian Way. We are so excited to see it!! 

According to Deadline, which reported on Sunday, The Right Stuff’s first season will “use the book as a starting point.” Each season will feature a mission from the early years of the United States’ space program. Season one will take place at the height of the Cold War in 1958 when the Soviets are dominating the space race. Paranoia, suspicion and fear of a country in decline are high. That time and those sentiments set the stage for NASA’s Project Mercury. Mercury creates the nation’s first astronauts from a group of highly competitive and elite military test pilots. They are launched into super-stardom as the Mercury Seven. John Glenn and Alan Shepard wage their own space race as they each vie to be the first American in space. 

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Dicaprio will executive produce (no word on whether he might plan to appear on screen) with his partner Jennifer Davisson, and Mark Lafferty (Castle Rock) who will also be showrunner for the series. Game of Thrones’ David Nutter will direct the first episode.

The Right Stuff is a riveting tale of Americans coming together to accomplish the impossible on a completely preposterous timeline. Everyone should read it. Also see the movie with Ed Harris and Sam Shepard. We can’t wait to see how the story comes to life on the small screen! 

The Right Stuff is set to go into production this fall, and will eventually land safely on Nat Geo.  

 

 

Jenny Flack
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