Apple TV’s Expanding Sci-Fi Franchise Seems Built for ‘The Expanse’ Fans

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Apple TV has become known for its science fiction shows, and fans of The Expanse will likely be excited about its plans to expand one of its existing storylines. While not a direct prequel, many viewers are already treating this new Apple TV series as if it were connected to The Expanse. With The Expanse unlikely to return for a seventh season, this new space-focused show is a great way to continue enjoying that kind of story.

Originally airing on Syfy and then moving to Prime Video, The Expanse ran for six seasons between 2015 and 2022, allowing it to finish its story as the creators intended. While the show didn’t adapt every book in the James S.A. Corey series, it still feels like a satisfying, complete story. It didn’t receive the attention it deserved during its run, but it’s continued to gain popularity since the finale. Luckily, fans missing The Expanse will have something new to enjoy in 2026 with a separate, but equally exciting, franchise.

2026 Will Expand ‘For All Mankind’ With Season 5 & ‘Star City’ Spin-off

Many call For All Mankind the best science fiction show you’ve probably never seen, and it’s consistently been excellent since it first aired in 2019. What makes it special is that it follows the same characters over decades in a reimagined version of history, leading to incredibly unique and moving storylines. Season 5 is set to premiere on March 27, 2026. So, if you like to binge-watch, now’s a great time to start catching up – and you’ll be rewarded with more than just the new season if you do!

I’ve been a big fan of For All Mankind, which brilliantly asks ‘what if’ the Soviets had won the Space Race. The show posited a world where that rivalry never ended, and mostly followed the American response. While we’d get glimpses of the Russian program, it always felt like a missed opportunity. That’s where the new spin-off, Star City, comes in. It’s incredibly smart – finally giving us the story from the Soviet perspective, showing us how they handled being the first to the moon and how that victory reshaped everything that followed. It’s a fascinating reframing of the history we thought we knew.

The show’s realistic and down-to-earth style is similar to The Expanse. Both avoid common science fiction clichés, and For All Mankind‘s slow, believable expansion into space feels like the beginning of the world we see in The Expanse. So far, nothing in the show contradicts this connection, even though they aren’t officially related. It’s surprisingly easy to imagine the two shows existing in the same universe.

Why ‘For All Mankind’s Ongoing Success Is So Impressive (& Exciting)

Despite not having huge ratings, For All Mankind is a remarkably well-made show. It’s impressive that it’s lasted five seasons, which is a challenge for many TV series today. Usually, spin-offs are reserved for wildly popular hits, and For All Mankind isn’t one of the biggest shows on Apple TV, or television overall. So, it might seem surprising that it’s becoming a franchise, but the show’s consistent quality has truly earned this expansion.

Fans of Apple TV+’s space dramas have a lot to look forward to in the coming months! The new season of For All Mankind begins streaming on March 27th, with all ten episodes available by May 22nd. Just a week later, on May 29th, the first two episodes of Star City will be released. The final episode of Star City‘s first season is expected on July 10th. This means there will be 15 consecutive weeks of new content from Apple TV+’s expanding universe – it’s a fantastic time to be a fan!

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2026-03-08 02:12