Kristen Stewart, best known for her role in the Twilight saga, is set to make her television debut in a new limited TV series called The Challenger. The show is based on the book The New Guys by Meredith Bagby and will portray the story of astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly into outer space.
Sally Ride made history as NASA’s first LGBTQIA+ astronaut and a member of the 1978 space shuttle class that broke barriers in the world of space exploration. This class marked a significant milestone as it included the first Black and Asian American astronauts, as well as several women. Ride’s achievements and contributions to space travel were groundbreaking, and she was later part of the Rogers Commission, which investigated the 1986 Challenger disaster.
The Challenger will be produced by Kyra Sedgwick and Valerie Stadler, in collaboration with Big Swing Productions. The show aims to focus on the diverse group of astronauts recruited in the 1978 space shuttle class, while also delving into the details of the Rogers Commission and the Challenger disaster. The narrative is expected to provide an in-depth look at the challenges faced by Ride and her colleagues during their journey into space exploration.
Kristen Stewart’s involvement in The Challenger marks her first television project, following a successful career in movies. The actress was personally approached by Valerie Sedgwick, who had envisioned Stewart in the role of Sally Ride. The show will be produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners and Stewart’s production company, Nevermind. Maggie Cohn, known for her work on American Crime Story and Narcos: Mexico, will serve as the writer and showrunner for the series.
Amazon is reportedly looking to release The Challenger on January 28, the anniversary of the Challenger disaster. This strategic timing aims to pay tribute to the memory of Sally Ride and her fellow astronauts while shedding light on the importance of space exploration and the risks involved in pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.
The upcoming TV series The Challenger promises to be a compelling and informative portrayal of astronaut Sally Ride’s remarkable journey into space. With Kristen Stewart in the lead role and a talented team behind the scenes, viewers can expect a riveting exploration of the challenges and triumphs of the 1978 space shuttle class. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project.
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