Barry Levinson to helm limited series about Apollo 11 moon landing

Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson has been attached to direct a limited series titled One Giant Leap, which will tell the story about the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Written and showrun by Stephen Kronish, the series is executive produced by Kevin Costner. The project is produced by Krosnish and Mike Medavoy.

According to Deadline, the series will look at one of the most historic events in US history, stressing the personality conflicts within the flight team that almost doomed the mission before it left the launch pad, and how a NASA psychiatrist’s predictions of disaster for astronaut Buzz Aldrin were ignored by her superiors.

The series will also look at the Soviet Union’s attempt to destroy Apollo 11 on its way to the moon, the Cold War victory of America over its Russian enemy, as well as the celebrations that resulted from the accomplishment that drew together half a billion people around the world.

The project is currently on the lookout for actors to play astronauts Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Mike Collins, and NASA psychiatrist Rachel Katherine Ludwig.

Levinson is known for helming Rain Man, Good Morning, Vietnam and Diner. He recently directed and produced Hulu’s Dopesick, HBO’s Paterno, The Wizard of Lies, and NBC's Shades of Blue.

One Giant Leap will be executive produced by Costner, Medavoy, Benjamin Anderson, Sir Howard Stringer and Jeremy Fox.