.png){kind=logo}
Published Jan 26, 2026, 6:30 PM EST
Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer on the New TV team, focusing on writing and content planning for streaming shows. They often assist with Classic TV coverage, as well.
They have covered events, such as Denver Fan Expo. Their articles have also been shared by professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale.
In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18.
Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity.
Apple TV’s upcoming sci-fi show will give the streamer a brand-new shared universe for one of its most memorable shows of all time. Shared universes aren’t all that common for modern sci-fi shows, but they have been the backbone of some of the longest-running and most influential science fiction TV shows.
Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Stargate wouldn’t have a continuing presence decades after their debut if it weren’t for their many spinoffs. This isn’t even taking into account sequels and prequels set in the same universe.
Luckily, Apple TV seems open to bringing back this old tradition, as their upcoming science fiction series, Star City, will give them their first self-contained shared universe in the sci-fi genre.
For All Mankind’s Spinoff, Star City, Will Focus On The Soviet Side Of The Space Race
For All Mankind exists in an alternate history in which the Soviets reached the moon first, and the space race between the US and USSR never ended. The hit Apple TV show focuses almost exclusively on the United States perspective. Now, the sci-fi drama-thriller show Star City will join that universe, exploring the story from the Soviet perspective.
Creator Ronald D. Moore plotted out a multi-season plan for Star City that incorporates real-life details he found while researching the Soviet Union’s 1960s space program, which was based at the titular secretive facility. Additionally, it will examine the pressure placed on cosmonauts and scientists by the USSR government.
The Soviets’ Story Hasn’t Been Told In Mainstream Media
The United States’ side of the space race has been told over and over in the media, so the main appeal of For All Mankind was its alternate history. The fictional parts are what make it interesting. However, Star City has a unique appeal because it’s telling a story that isn’t widely known.
Whether it's because of nationalism or capitalism, the Soviet side of the story hasn’t been portrayed in Hollywood films or shows. Almost all the media exploring the Soviet side comes from Russia. They aren’t really promoted, though, which means there will be a lot of new revelations in Star City. Perhaps the new show will spark new interest in learning about the other side.
Apple TV Continues Its Sci-Fi Domination
Apple TV has had a stronghold on the sci-fi genre since it released For All Mankind in 2019, its first-ever show in the genre. The streamer has continued to prioritize quality over quantity. They might not have as many original shows as competitors, but they’re top-notch.
Pluribus’s award nominations and wins for its debut season really show that Apple TV still dominates sci-fi in 2026. Star City and For All Mankind’s shared universe is just another example of why Apple TV will continue to dominate. It’s a monumental success for the streamer to have an excellent shared sci-fi universe.
Apple TV’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters technically exists within the shared Monsterverse universe, but only across platforms. That will change soon, though, as Apple TV’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is also getting a prequel spinoff from the streamer. Ultimately, if Apple TV continues to produce brilliant shows, it could become the best streamer for original content.
Showrunner Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert
English (US) ·