Why Apple TV Is Ending Its Most-Acclaimed Sci-Fi Series Right As It Launches Franchise Spinoffs

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One of Apple TV‘s most well-regarded series is preparing for landing soon.

Among the popular shows available on the streaming service, For All Mankind stands out as a favorite. It premiered in 2019 and presents a fascinating alternate history where the Soviet Union beat the United States to the moon. The show has attracted a large audience and received positive reviews, with a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert, the creators of For All Mankind, recently told Collider why the series will conclude after its sixth season. Nedivi clarified they didn’t initially plan for seven seasons, but always intended to finish the show by bringing the story up to the present day. Here’s what Nedivi had to say:

Let me set the record straight about the show’s length. It wasn’t ever definitively planned for seven seasons. We always aimed for around six or seven, but truthfully, our core goal from the start was to reach the present day. We’ve talked about this – we loved the idea of establishing a point where history diverged and then showing the consequences by ending the series in our present, illustrating how different things could be. As we progressed, especially with the time jumps in Season 5, we realized we only needed one more season to fully realize the story and the roadmap Ron Moore, Matt, and I had originally laid out.

Instead of aiming for a specific number of seasons, the writers focused on finding natural points in the story for time jumps, letting the narrative guide the length. After reaching season 5, they decided they only needed one more season to finish the story.

Wolpert verified that discussions about the sixth season of For All Mankind initially focused on developing a strong idea to conclude the entire series. He also praised Sony and Apple for their consistent support and trust in the creative team’s decisions.

That email pretty much reflected our conversation, though it was a bit more detailed. We started discussing Season 6 while finishing up Season 5 and editing footage. As the story unfolded, we developed what we thought was a strong idea for how to end the series.

Both Apple and Sony have been incredibly supportive throughout the entire process. Their partnership has been fantastic, and their willingness to back such an original show really highlights their commitment to creativity.

The Apple TV+ series For All Mankind began its fifth season on Friday, March 27th, with new episodes airing weekly on Fridays through May 29th. A final season will then air next year, bringing the show to a close in 2027.

The end of the series is happening at a notable moment, as a spin-off called Star City is in development. Star City was officially announced in April 2024, before the plans for the final season of the original series were fully decided. The announcement actually came shortly after the confirmation of For All Mankind season 5.

Since the initial announcement, more information about Star City has become available. We now know that Rhys Ifans, known for his role in House of the Dragon, will star as the lead – the Chief Designer of the Soviet Union Space Program. The cast also includes Anna Maxwell Martin, Adam Nagatis, Josef Davies, and Ruby Ashbourne Serkis.

With the end of one chapter for For All Mankind, a new one is about to start. While the conclusion of season 6 might not please everyone, the showrunners seem to have a clear plan for how things should end. Let’s hope they can fulfill that vision and give the series a strong and satisfying finale.

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2026-03-29 16:48