Director: Kasia Adamik, Nick Murphy

Cast: Rhys Ifans, Anna Maxwell Martin, Agnes O'Casey

Star City is a 2026 American drama and sci-fi series directed by Kasia Adamik and Nick Murphy, set against the secretive world of the Soviet space program during the Cold War era, following the engineers, cosmonauts, and intelligence operatives who put everything on the line in the race to the moon.

What is Star City about?

Behind the iron curtain, a group of Soviet scientists, pilots, and handlers operate within a classified facility known as Star City — the nerve center of the USSR's ambitions to beat the Americans to the lunar surface. Each episode peels back the human cost of that mission: rivalries between brilliant engineers, the psychological burden on cosmonauts selected for the ultimate sacrifice, and the shadow war between intelligence agencies on both sides. Personal loyalties fracture under institutional pressure, and the line between idealism and coercion blurs as the countdown continues. The series weaves together Cold War intrigue with intimate character drama, exploring what people give up — and what they become — in service of history.

Cast & crew

Rhys Ifans leads the ensemble, bringing his distinctive intensity to the complex world of Soviet bureaucracy and ambition. Anna Maxwell Martin delivers a layered performance as a figure navigating the treacherous intersection of science and state power. Agnes O'Casey rounds out the core cast, representing the next generation caught between loyalty and conscience. Directors Kasia Adamik and Nick Murphy bring sharp visual storytelling and controlled pacing to the material.

Context & significance

For Persian-speaking viewers in the diaspora, Star City carries a particular resonance. Iranians who lived through the Cold War or studied its history understand the weight of state-driven ambition, ideological conformity, and the quiet heroism of individuals working within oppressive systems. The space race is a universal story, but its emotional texture — sacrifice demanded by a government that views people as instruments — speaks directly to experiences many in the Iranian diaspora know intimately. The series is available on K-Time with Persian dubbing as well as Persian subtitles, making it fully accessible for all generations in the family, from those who prefer to watch in their native language to younger viewers comfortable with the original English audio.

Where & how to watch

Star City is available now on K-Time with both Persian dub and Persian subtitles. Watch on your browser, TV, or phone with no VPN needed and no geo-blocking. Subscribe and cancel anytime — no extra download required to start watching immediately.