Kristen Stewart's NASA Astronaut Limited Series THE CHALLENGER Gets the Greenlight at Amazon

Amazon is heading to space with a new prestige series with The Challenger, which has officially been greenlit at Amazon Prime Video, with Kristen Stewart stepping into the role of trailblazing astronaut Sally Ride.

It’s a project that’s been quietly taking shape for years, and now it’s finally ready for liftoff. Stewart was attached to it a couple of years ago.

The series draws inspiration from Meredith E. Bagby’s book The New Guys. Maggie Cohn, known for her work on The Staircase and American Crime Story, is writing the series, executive producing, and serving as showrunner. The series is aiming to dig into the human story behind a defining moment in space exploration.

At its core, The Challenger is built around one of the most devastating events in NASA history. But instead of just revisiting the tragedy, the show zooms in on the people caught in its orbit, especially Sally Ride. The synopsis reads:

“The Challenger tells the gripping story of one of the most defining moments in space history, both the unprecedented events leading up to the tragedy, and the shocking investigation that followed.

“As the members of the 1986 Rogers Commission interrogate the complex inner workings of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to find what, or who, was responsible for the Challenger’s doomed fate, the show explores Commission member Sally Ride’s (Stewart) personal journey.

“We follow Sally, and the rest of the diverse Astronaut Class of ’78, through the ranks of the shuttle program, through initial recruitment and training, professional and personal highs and lows, until Sally’s historic glass ceiling moment as she becomes the first American woman in space.”

The series is also set to explore the broader group of astronauts recruited in the late 1970s, giving audiences a look at the intense training, the politics, and the personal struggles that came with chasing spaceflight during that era.

Producer Kyra Sedgwick has been developing this project for quite some time, and her enthusiasm for finally bringing it to life is clear:

“Meredith, Valerie, and I at Big Swing have been passionately developing this project since 2017, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Amblin and Amazon MGM Studios.

“There is no one better than Maggie Cohn to bring to life the complex story of the Challenger and the new class of astronauts recruited by NASA in the early 1970s, all through the eyes of an American hero, Sally Ride.”

For Amazon MGM Studios, the choice of Stewart to lead the series feels like a major win. Head of global television Peter Friedlander shared:

“Sally Ride’s courage and brilliance changed history, and we couldn’t imagine a more powerful actor to bring her story to life than Kristen Stewart.

“The Challenger is an inspiring story about breaking barriers, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with Big Swing Productions, Amblin Television, Nevermind Pictures, Maggie Cohn, and James Hawes to share it with our global Prime Video audience.”

What makes this even more interesting is that The Challenger marks Stewart’s first regular television role. She’s built a career jumping between indie standouts and major studio films, earning critical praise for performances in Spencer, which landed her an Academy Award nomination, as well as projects like Clouds of Sils Maria, Seberg, Camp X-Ray, and Love Lies Bleeding. Before all of that, she became a household name with the Twilight franchise.

Stewart also stepped behind the camera recently, making her feature directorial debut with The Chronology of Water, which screened in competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Now, she’s taking on a great and interesting role that blends history, science, and personal drama.

The Challenger could deliver a powerful look at both a national tragedy and the legacy of one of NASA’s most important figures.