APPLETON, Wis. — Sean Kaufman, the 25-year-old actor known for his breakout role as Steven in the Prime Video series The Summer I Turned Pretty, is embracing the unfamiliar as he steps into the high-stakes world of space exploration in the fifth season of Apple TV+'s acclaimed alternate-history drama For All Mankind. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Kaufman described his transition from beachside teen drama to interplanetary adventure as a "joyous" challenge that pushed him far outside his comfort zone. The series, which reimagines the Space Race with the Soviet Union beating the United States to the moon, returned for its latest installment in 2024, introducing a new generation of characters amid escalating tensions on Mars.
Kaufman's enthusiasm for discomfort stems from a deliberate career philosophy. "I’ve been telling everybody that the only thing that I want to do in this career is things that scare me. I want to do complete 180s," he told Us Weekly. Previously riding waves of popularity with The Summer I Turned Pretty, which chronicles the romantic entanglements of a group of friends in a coastal Massachusetts town during summer vacations, Kaufman found the shift to For All Mankind invigorating. The show, created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi, has captivated audiences since its 2019 premiere by blending real historical events with speculative fiction, exploring how a prolonged Space Race alters global politics, technology, and society.
In season 5, renewed by Apple TV+ in April 2024, the narrative leaps forward to the present day, focusing on the offspring of earlier characters. Kaufman portrays Alex Poletov, the adult son of Kelly Baldwin Poletov and Alexei Poletov, key figures from previous seasons played by Krys Marshall and an astronaut counterpart. This generational handoff marks a pivotal evolution for the series, which originally centered on the 1960s and 1970s Space Race but has progressively advanced through decades, incorporating elements like lunar bases, orbital stations, and now Martian colonies. The inspiration for the show's premise draws from the Apollo 11 lunar plaque, symbolizing humanity's collective achievement, but twisted into a tale of rivalry and innovation.
One of the most daunting aspects of joining For All Mankind, according to Kaufman, was authentically depicting life on Mars. "The biggest thing that I was worried about [when joining the show] was being on the actual surface of Mars and how that was going to look," he recalled in the Us Weekly interview. To prepare, Kaufman consulted with a real astronaut, spending weeks practicing what he believed was a realistic low-gravity gait. He even rehearsed a slow-motion moonwalk, only to learn during the meeting that Mars' gravity—about 38% of Earth's—would allow for near-normal walking. "I met with an astronaut and I was so nervous talking to him. I was practicing for weeks. I was doing my slo-mo moon walk and I thought I got it. I showed him, and he was like, ‘What are you doing? It’s basically the same gravity as Earth. You would walk pretty much the same.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, so that was all for nothing,'" Kaufman shared, laughing off the mix-up.
Despite the initial hurdles, Kaufman's immersion in the production proved exhilarating, particularly in action-oriented scenes. A standout moment in the season premiere features Alex Poletov zipping across the Martian terrain on a space motorcycle, a sequence that blended practical effects with cutting-edge visual technology. "That was so much fun. That was on a little rig they set up. I had four walls of green screen around me and I had this little toy bike that I think actually worked," Kaufman explained. He described the setup as reminiscent of mechanical horses outside supermarkets, where the bike was mounted to a rig that simulated motion without actual movement. Clad in a full spacesuit, Kaufman spent three hours cycling in place, surrounded by green screens that would later transport him to the red planet's dusty plains.
The production's technical demands highlight For All Mankind's commitment to realism, even in its speculative framework. The series has long been praised for consulting NASA experts and incorporating accurate depictions of space travel, from zero-gravity simulations to the physics of extraterrestrial environments. Kaufman's experience underscores how the show balances entertainment with educational elements, drawing viewers into a world where historical what-ifs—like the Soviets planting their flag on the moon in 1969—unfold with geopolitical intrigue involving U.S. presidents, NASA administrators, and international astronauts.
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"It was such a joyous [transition]. I’ve been telling everybody that the only thing that I want to do in this career is things that scare me. I want to do complete 180s."
— Sean Kaufman, in an exclusive interview with Us WeeklyBeyond the physical challenges, Kaufman credited the veteran cast for easing his entry into the ensemble. The original lineup, which debuted in 2019, includes Joel Kinnaman as NASA administrator Ed Baldwin, Shantel VanSanten as his wife Karen, Jodi Balfour as engineer Ellen Wilson, Wrenn Schmidt as Tracy Stevens, Sonya Walger as Molly Cobb, Krys Marshall as NASA engineer Danielle Poole, Cynthy Wu as Kelly Baldwin, Coral Peña as Aleida Rosales, and Edi Gathegi as Arianne Poole. Later seasons added Toby Kebbell, Tyner Rushing, Svetlana Efremova, and Daniel Stern, creating a tight-knit group that has navigated the show's ambitious scope over four prior seasons.
"I feel lucky enough that they just shared their experiences with me," Kaufman said of his co-stars. "They are all wonderful people who I worked with. They bared their soul unto me, which was incredible. They really helped me feel so comfortable. I initially felt like I was a little nervous and a little lost. I’ve never felt more acclimated to a set ever than this one because they’re like my family." This camaraderie has been a hallmark of the production, with cast members often citing the familial atmosphere as key to portraying the intense bonds formed in high-pressure space missions.
The broader context of For All Mankind reflects ongoing real-world interest in space exploration. As private companies like SpaceX and government agencies push toward Mars missions— with NASA's Artemis program aiming for lunar returns by 2026 and eventual Mars landings in the 2030s—the series taps into public fascination with humanity's next frontier. By April 2024, when the fifth season renewal was announced, the show had already built a dedicated following, with episodes streaming weekly on Fridays. This timing aligns with heightened global attention to space, including China's growing lunar ambitions and international collaborations on the International Space Station.
Kaufman's role as Alex Poletov introduces fresh dynamics, building on his parents' legacy from season 4, where Kelly and Alexei were central to a Mars outpost crisis. The character's arc in season 5 reportedly involves navigating personal and professional conflicts in a colonized Mars environment, amid escalating U.S.-Soviet rivalries that have persisted across decades in the show's timeline. While details remain under wraps to avoid spoilers, Kaufman's comments suggest a blend of action, emotion, and humor, as seen in his lighthearted recounting of production mishaps.
Looking ahead, For All Mankind continues to evolve, with whispers of a spinoff titled Star City that would delve into the Soviet side of the Space Race, potentially featuring cameos from the main series. Kaufman expressed gratitude for the opportunity to grow alongside such a prestigious project. "I feel lucky enough that For All Mankind gave me an opportunity to do that where I was all of a sudden surrounded by green screens and on a space motorcycle. I was like, ‘What am I doing? This is so cool,'" he told Us Weekly.
The actor's affinity for the unknown resonates with the series' themes of pushing boundaries. "Anything that I don’t know or anything that I am unaware of how to do [is something I want to try]. If I ever know how to do something, then I shouldn’t do it. I love being uncomfortable. I love uncomfortability. I love not knowing what a joy that is, what a privilege that is and to be able to learn," Kaufman reflected. As new episodes air Fridays on Apple TV+, fans anticipate how Kaufman's Alex will shape the ongoing saga of humanity's stellar ambitions.
In an era where space travel is transitioning from fiction to feasible reality, For All Mankind serves as both entertainment and provocation, challenging viewers to consider alternate paths not taken. Kaufman's journey from summer shores to Martian dunes exemplifies the show's enduring appeal, bridging personal growth with cosmic exploration. With season 5 underway, the series reaffirms its place in prestige television, inviting audiences to dream big amid the stars.