Kristen Stewart’s Sally Ride Drama Set to Launch on Prime Video
Filmogaz.com confirms Prime Video has greenlit a limited drama about astronaut Sally Ride. Kristen Stewart will portray Ride in the new series titled The Challenger.
Creative team and partners
The project is rooted in Meredith E. Bagby’s 2023 book The New Guys. Kyra Sedgwick’s Big Swing Productions brought the project forward. Amblin Television and Stewart’s Nevermind Pictures joined as partners.
Maggie Cohn, known for The Staircase and Impeachment: American Crime Story, created the series. James Hawes, whose credits include Slow Horses, is attached to direct.
Executive producers
- Kyra Sedgwick
- Valerie Stadler
- Maggie Cohn
- James Hawes
- Meredith E. Bagby
- Kristen Stewart
- Dylan Meyer
- Maggie McLean
- Darryl Frank
- Justin Falvey
Series focus and scope
The limited series will trace Ride’s rise to become the first American woman in space. It will also examine her role on the commission probing the Challenger shuttle disaster.
Viewers will follow members of the Astronaut Class of ’78. Storylines will include recruitment, training, career highs and personal struggles.
Development timeline and context
Big Swing began working on the adaptation in 2017. The television project entered formal development nearly two years ago. Prime Video’s greenlight arrives after that extended preparation.
Prime Video described the series as an exploration of NASA’s internal workings during the 1986 Rogers Commission. The show aims to combine institutional investigation with Ride’s personal journey.
Significance for Kristen Stewart
This will mark Stewart’s first leading role in a television or streaming series. Her film work includes Spencer and the Twilight franchise.
Executives at Amazon MGM Studios praised Stewart’s ability to embody Ride. The streamer called the drama an inspiring story about breaking barriers.
Representation and next steps
The creative team and producers are now preparing the show for production. Casting beyond Stewart, a production schedule, and premiere timing have not yet been announced.
Industry reps for key creatives were listed as part of initial announcements. Filmogaz.com will follow casting and production updates as they emerge.
