Nation Geographic’s upcoming space race drama ‘The Right Stuff’ has enlisted six more cast members– Josh Cooke, Patrick Fischler, Eric Ladin, Shannon Lucio, Eloise Mumford, and Nora Zehetner. They join the astronauts Patrick J. Adams as John Glenn, Joe Dempsie as Gordon”Gordo” Cooper, James Lafferty as Scott Carpenter, Jake McDorman as Alan Shepard, Aaron Staton as Wally Schirra, Micah Stock as Deke Slayton, and Michael Trotter as Gus Grissom. The new cast members will portray those that orbit around them, including their wives.
‘The Right Stuff’ is based on the nonfiction book by Tom Wolfe, which was previously adapted into a film in 1983. It depicts the selection of the Mercury Seven, which is described as “America’s first reality show,” as viewers at home watched as the astronauts trained to become among the first men in space. Thanks to media coverage, they became celebrities, as did their wives.
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Josh Cooke portrays Loudon Wainwright Jr., the man responsible for presenting these military men to the American public. The role is described as “LIFE Magazine’s star reporter, tasked with writing the biographies of all seven astronauts and has the keenest look at what’s really transpiring.”
Among Cooke’s most famous roles are Louis Greene on ‘Dexter’, Joel Stephens on ‘Hart of Dixie’, and Eamonn O’Neill on ‘Longmire’. He has also recently appeared on ‘Castle Rock’, ‘S.W.A.T.’, ‘Young Sheldon’, ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’, ‘Grace and Frankie’, and ‘Bull’.
Patrick Fischler’s role is that of “soft-spoken rocket scientist” Bob Gilruth, “the partner of the more brash Chris Kraft.” “They are critical members of NASA’s Space Task group, charged by President Dwight Eisenhower with putting a man into space.”
Recognizable character actor Fischler recently portrayed the coldblooded killer, Smoothie, on ‘Happy!’. He has an extremely lengthy resumé, and has had recurring or regular roles on ‘Mad Men’, ‘Lost’, ‘Southland’, ‘Californication’, ‘Once Upon a Time’, and ‘Twin Peaks’.
Eric Ladin portrays Bob Gilruth’s “brash” partner Chris Kraft. Ladin is another alumnus of ‘Mad Men’ and ‘Dexter’. He also starred on the miniseries ‘Generation Kill’, and had regular or recurring roles on ‘The Killing’, ‘Boardwalk Empire’, ‘The Brink’, ‘Longmire’, ‘Six’, ‘Shooter’, ‘Bosch’, and most recently, ‘Impulse’. He has also appeared in movies such as ‘American Sniper’ and the first ‘Annabelle’.
RELATED: ‘The Right Stuff’ Enlists Six New Astronauts Including Jake McDorman And Joe Dempsie
Shannon Lucio plays Louise Shepard, the wife of Alan Shepard. Lucio may be remembered for playing Lindsay Gardner on ‘The O.C.’, or Miriam Holtz on ‘Prison Break’. She went on to appear on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘The Gates’, ‘True Blood’, and ‘American Horror Story’. More recently, she has popped up on ‘Dynasty’ and ‘Shameless’.
Eloise Mumford plays the wife of Gordo Cooper, Trudy, “a woman of poise and confidence, able to command attention without saying a word.”
Mumford portrayed Kate Kavanagh in the ‘Fifty Shades’ movie franchise, and has had roles on the TV shows ‘Crash’, ‘Lone Star’, and ‘The River’. Most recently, she starred as Hope Jacquinot on ‘Chicago Fire’.
Zehetner portrays Annie Glenn, the wife of John Glenn, “who has known, and loved, her husband since childhood (and they’ve never been apart).”
Zehetner most recently portrayed Valeria Poreskova on ‘Designated Survivor’. Before that, co-starred on ‘Everwood’, ‘Heroes’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, and ‘Maron’. She also had a role on… yep, ‘Mad Men’. Coincidentally, she also popped up on ‘The Astronaut Wives Club’.
Leonardo DiCaprio serves as an executive producer of ‘The Right Stuff’. Production will begin this fall in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Source: Deadline
