There was plenty unraveling behind the scenes of Constellation, Apple TV+’s impressive new sci-fi series starring Noomi Rapace as an astronaut (Jo) who survives a disaster in space only to return to Earth feeling as if key pieces of her life are missing. For starters, James D’Arcy (Oppenheimer), who plays Jo’s husband Magnus in the series, couldn’t put down the script when he first acquired it. Meanwhile, William Catlett (Black Lightening and the upcoming Abigail), playing a pivotal role here as Jo’s fellow astronaut, Paul Lancaster, was reeling over having the opportunity to work with Rapace, consult with a real-life astronaut, and tackle zero-gravity.
Created by Peter Harness, the deeply layered mystery thriller culled from extensive research from NASA and other consultants to create a truly realistic story. D’Arcy and Catlett shared more about the production, the brilliance of Rapace, and much more in this exclusive MovieWeb interview.
On the ‘Force’ of Noomi Rapace
Constellation
4/5
- Release Date
- February 21, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Turbine Studios, Haut Et Court Tv
- Streaming Service(s)
- Apple TV+
The eight-part series also stars Davina and Rosie Coleman, Henry David, Carol Weyers, Barbara Sukowa, Julian Looman, and Sandra Tele. We’re quickly introduced to Jo, who is part of a five-person team of international astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos, and the European Space Agency (ESA). The team conducting research aboard the I.S.S. has been in space for nearly a year experimenting with NASA’s Cold’s Atom Laboratory quantum physics module, which becomes integral to the story. Jonathan Banks’ Henry Caldera helms that quantum division. In space, Jo’s job is to study the psychological effects of long-term space travel, which, ironically, becomes her own cross to bear when she returns to Earth.
When a collision warning alerts the team of an approaching object, the station is struck, causing extensive damage to the life support and electrical systems, ultimately claiming one life. When Jo must go on a spacewalk to repair damages, she’s horrified to discover the mummified body of a Soviet-era female cosmonaut that had collided with the station. But when she relays what happens to her colleagues, everybody questions the validity of Jo’s story.
William Catlett plays a significant role as fellow Paul Lancaster. Catlett and his costars underwent extensive training here, working in zero-gravity in a replica of the I.S.S. When asked about those challenges and the most compelling thing about working alongside Noomi Rapace, the actor said:
“Well, training in zero gravity… we had two weeks of rehearsal just in harness. So, you have to know how to move gracefully through the I.S.S. And we had Scott Kelly, an astronaut who lived in space, and he was able to… give us his experience. That was amazing.
And working with Noomi… Noomi is a force. She’s a force of an actress. She’s brilliant. She’s graceful. A lot of us talk about her willingness to be a hard worker, but not her sensitivity. And I’m recalling a scene that we did… not giving anything away, where she’s in the Coppola and she crashes into that. And it’s just me and her. And I’m trying to figure out what is going on. And her presence and just being in the scene is a dream for any actor to play.”
James D’Arcy Couldn’t Put the Script Down
Regarding Scott Kelly, the real-life astronaut broke the American astronaut record with 520 days in space, spanning four missions, and played a vital role behind the scenes. Executive producer/director Michelle MacLaren and the production team enlisted many experts who would be involved from the initial writing stage to on-set consultation, particularly during the zero-gravity simulation. Kelly joined science author/broadcaster Michael Brooks, who has a PhD in quantum physics, to add context to the story. Brooks helped steer the narrative in areas dealing with theories of parallel realities, which became integral to this series, especially in its second half.
“I read the script kind of like the audience, or maybe like some of the audience will see the show, which is, I read it in one hit. I did all eight episodes in a day, and I hadn’t intended to,” said James D’Arcy who plays Jo’s husband Magnus Taylor, in the series. “I was going to read it in chunks, but I couldn’t stop, which is a very, very good sign. You know, my wife asked me, ‘What’s the show about?’ And I struggled because it’s so unique. I couldn’t really explain it. You know, it doesn’t adhere to any one genre. It’s a completely wild ride. You think it’s sci-fi initially, and it is, but then it becomes that Noomi was attached and she’s a brilliant actress.”
He went on to credit the powerful directors on board, such as MacLaren (Game of Thrones, The Morning Show), who directed the first two episodes, and Joseph Cedar (Our Boys), who took on the three that followed, and Oliver Hirschbiegel (of Unwanted), who helmed episodes six through eight. D’Arcy calls the trio “three of the best directors that I’ve ever worked with. There was no part of it that was anything but a resounding, ‘Yes!’ This is the kind of project that actors really are looking for.”
3:56
Exclusive: Constellation Execs Unpack Their ‘Epic’ Sci-Fi Series and Working With Noomi Rapace in Zero-Gravity
Director Michelle MacLaren and Showrunner Peter Harness uncover the challenges of creating a different sci-fi thriller with touches of horror.
Plot Twists, Rewrites, and a Complicated Narrative
Noomi Rapace knows how to command a scene. In Constellation, Jo is on a seemingly endless and mysterious path. Is she in a parallel reality? Is she hallucinating? Have astronauts before her gone through similar experiences? All of it adds to the complex creative texture of this series. D’Arcy shares his thoughts about the on-and off-screen Rapace.
“Something that is unique in terms of the humor… I mean, Noomi is very funny off-camera. In fairness, I’m right now struggling to remember a sort of proper laugh-out-loud moment because for anyone who’s seen the show, you’ll appreciate that Noomi had to go to places that were really very intense, and no actor wants to be in that intensity and suddenly break out of it and do a bit. You know what I mean? You need to stay there until the scene is done and, in her case, that took eight months. So, you know, she’s great value and great fun off-camera, but she is the most committed actress I’ve ever worked with when it comes to the on-camera work.” Regarding the script itself, he commended Peter Harness.
“[Harness] did this incredible thing about three weeks before we started shooting. He decided to… add depth to the characters and all the rest of it… It seems impossible because the show is so complicated, but he almost completely rewrote all eight episodes in about a week and a half.”
Take note: The final shot of the series delivers a major twist, which D’Arcy shared: “I love shows that are open-ended at the end… But then, of course, there’s the frustration of waiting to find out, ‘When do I get the answer to that question?’”
“There’s more story to tell,” Catlett added. “This is just the first part. And I’m excited to see everyone watch the show, come out in massive numbers, and really enjoy the show so that hopefully we can continue to tell the story.” Constellation streams on Apple TV+. Watch the trailer below.
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