The Right Stuff Television Series Cancelled After One Season on Disney+
Disney+ has decided not to renew The Right Stuff television series for a second season. The show, a period drama about the Mercury 7 astronauts, premiered in October 2020 as a Disney+ original after originating at National Geographic. This marks the streaming platform’s first cancellation of a scripted series. Warner Bros. Television, the studio behind the series, is actively seeking a new home for The Right Stuff on other networks, including potential WarnerMedia siblings like TNT and HBO Max.
A Costly Relocation and Potential New Missions
The cancellation comes after a significant financial investment. In November, The Right Stuff received a $13.7 million relocation incentive to move production from Florida to California for a prospective second season. This was the fourth-largest incentive ever granted under the California Film Commission program. This substantial investment underscores the high stakes involved in finding a new network for the series, making it a priority for Warner Bros. Television and parent company WarnerMedia. Discussions between Disney+ and WBTV explored various options for the show’s future, including a potential second season centered on a different mission from the 1980s, potentially with a new cast. This indicates a willingness to adapt the series to potentially attract a wider audience or fit a different network’s programming strategy.
The Right Stuff: A Look Back at the Series
Based on Tom Wolfe’s acclaimed non-fiction book, The Right Stuff offered a dramatized account of the early days of the American space program. The series delved into the lives of the Mercury 7 astronauts, portraying their personal struggles and professional triumphs as they navigated the intense pressures of the space race. The Right Stuff starred Patrick J. Adams as John Glenn and Jake McDorman as Alan Shepard, two central figures in the historical narrative. The ensemble cast also featured Colin O’Donoghue, Aaron Staton, James Lafferty, Micah Stock, and Michael Trotter as the remaining members of the Mercury 7.
The series depicted the astronauts and their families thrust into the public spotlight, becoming instant celebrities in a high-stakes competition with potentially life-or-death consequences. The eight-episode first season provided Disney+ with a prestigious scripted series during a period affected by production delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While The Right Stuff didn’t achieve breakout success in terms of Nielsen ratings, it served as a significant entry in Disney+’s original programming lineup, following the success of The Mandalorian. The show represented Nat Geo’s first foray into scripted original series for the streaming platform.
The Future of The Right Stuff
As Warner Bros. Television shops The Right Stuff to other networks, the cast’s options are set to expire. A two-week extension has been requested to allow more time to secure a new platform for the series. Whether The Right Stuff finds a new home and continues its story remains to be seen. The series represents a significant investment and a compelling historical narrative, making its future a topic of considerable interest within the television industry.