‘The Right Stuff’ Sets October Premiere Date on Disney+

Astronaut drama The Right Stuff is preparing for liftoff. Disney+ has announced that the National Geographic series will hit the platform next month. The first two episodes of The Right Stuff will land on Disney+ Friday, October 9, and subsequent episodes will air in the weeks to follow.

Based on Tom Wolfe’s bestselling book, The Right Stuff charts the early days of the U.S. Space Program and tells the iconic story of America’s first astronauts, a group known as the Mercury 7. When the Mercury 7 were announced in 1959, the height of the Cold War, they became instant celebrities, and they soon began to compete in what is now considered America’s first “reality show.” Together with their families, the ambitious astronauts set off on a dangerous journey in search of money, fame, and immortality.

The Right Stuff is particularly focused on Major John Glenn (Patrick J. Adams), a revered Marine test pilot, and Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard (Jake McDorman), a famed Navy test pilot. They are joined by fellow Mercury 7 astronauts Captain Gordo Cooper (Colin O’Donoghue), Wally Schirra (Aaron Stanton), Scott Carpenter (James Lafferty), Deke Slayton (Micha Stock), and Gus Grissom (Michael Trotter), each with varying degrees of flight experience.

The Disney+ series also stars Nora Zehetner as Nora Glenn, Shannon Lucio as Louise Shepard, and Eloise Mumford as Trudy Cooper. Patrick Fishler and Eric Ladin appear as NASA engineers Bob Gilruth and Chris Kraft.

But that’s not all: The Right Stuff also boasts an impressive slate of producers and behind-the-scenes talent. Castle Rock and Halt and Catch Fire alum Mark Lafferty serves as executive producer along with Applian Way’s Jennifer Davisson and Leonardo DiCaprio (!) in addition to Will Staples, Danny Strong, Howard Korder, and Chris Long. Oscar winner Thelma Schoonmaker also serves as a consulting producer.

The Right Stuff premieres Friday, October 9 on Disney+. Watch the official trailer above.