“Space Force” — co-created for Netflix by Carell and Greg Daniels, the man who brought us the American version of “The Office” — centers on the exploits of Gen. Mark R. Naird (Carell), a decorated pilot who once had lofty dreams of leading the Air Force.
“It has always been my dream to command a service branch,” Naird says excitedly in the trailer, seconds before unraveling at the news it would be the U.S. military’s sixth service, Space Force, he would be leading. The new branch’s mission is “to defend satellites from attack” and “perform other space-related tasks ... or something,” the show’s teaser trailersays.
“Skeptical but dedicated, Mark uproots his family and moves to a remote base in Colorado where he and a colorful team of scientists and ‘Spacemen’ are tasked by the White House with getting American boots on the moon (again) in a hurry and achieving total dominance,” a Netflix release said.
“Space Force,” set for a May 29 launch, touts a stellar cast that includes John Malkovich, Jane Lynch, Ben Schwartz, Noah Emmerich, Tawny Newsome, Diedrich Bader, and Jimmy O. Yang.
Netflix recently confirmed that long-time “Friends” star, Lisa Kudrow, would also be joining the show to play Carell’s disillusioned wife, Maggie, who “sublimated parts of herself to her husband’s career for two decades.”
If the trailer is any indication, the show promises to pull no punches in highlighting disillusionment with leadership and the ridiculousness of military bureaucracy.
The release of the 10-episode season, an obvious nod to President Donald Trump’s launch of the U.S. military’s newest branch, coincides with Netflix’s impending loss of Carell’s iconic sitcom, “The Office,” which is expected to move over to NBC’s soon-to-launch streaming platform, “Peacock.”
Watch the trailer below, and tune in May 29.
"Space Force"