The Challenger: Will Arnett Joins Kristen Stewart in Prime Video Limited Series
Will Arnett has been cast in the Prime Video limited series The Challenger, alongside Kristen Stewart as astronaut Sally Ride. Arnett will portray NASA official George Abbey in the show, which is based on the book The New Guys by Meredith E. Bagby. The series will delve into the events leading up to the Challenger disaster, the subsequent investigation, and Sally Ride's historic journey as the first American woman in space. The Challenger is being produced by Big Swing Productions, Amblin Television, and Stewart's Nevermind Pictures.
George Abbey, played by Arnett, was the director of flight operations for NASA and was responsible for assigning Sally Ride to the crew of the space shuttle Challenger in 1983. This mission marked Ride as the first American woman to travel to space. Abbey later went on to become the director of the Johnson Space Center. Sally Ride participated in another shuttle mission and was part of the ground-based flight control team for several others before joining the commission that investigated the Challenger explosion in 1986.
The Challenger was given the green light by Prime Video in March, with Kristen Stewart taking on her first recurring role in a TV or streaming series. The series was created by Maggie Cohn, known for her work on The Staircase and Impeachment: American Crime Story, who also serves as the writer and showrunner. The executive producers include James Hawes, Kyra Sedgwick, Valerie Stadler, Meredith E. Bagby, Dylan Meyer, Maggie McLean, Darryl Frank, and Justin Falvey.
Will Arnett recently starred in the film Is This Thing On?, which he co-wrote, and made a guest appearance on The Madison on Paramount+. The accomplished actor, known for his roles in BoJack Horseman, Arrested Development, and 30 Rock, has a new project lined up called Behemoth! alongside Pedro Pascal, Matthew Lillard, and Olivia Wilde. Arnett is represented by CAA and Sloane Offer.
In conclusion, Will Arnett's addition to The Challenger adds to the star-studded cast of the Prime Video series, which promises to explore the tragic events surrounding the Challenger disaster and the remarkable achievements of astronaut Sally Ride. The series is set to provide a compelling and insightful look into this pivotal moment in space exploration history.