Steve Carell leads Netflix’s Space Force, from the creator of The Office

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Show after show is being delayed while Hollywood and the rest of the world grapples with the threat of the coronavirus, but there are still plenty of shows in the pipeline for us to enjoy down the line. Netflix just released a bunch of pics from Space Force, a new sitcom about the sixth branch of America’s military, which exists to protect the interests of the United States out in the stars.

And yes, if you think the Space Force logo looks a little like the one from Star Trek, you’re not alone. Let’s try and move past it. President Donald Trump first mentioned the idea of a Space Force back in March of 2018. I dunno if Office creator Greg Daniels got immediately to work on the idea for this show right after that, but this is a pretty quick turnaround.

Happily, the show itself is looking pretty good, with a terrific pedigree and a high-powered cast. Carell, obviously, is used to playing a manager, although let’s hope the guy in charge of nuking the moon or whatever is more competent than Michael Scott.

Here’s the official synopsis for the show:

"A decorated pilot with dreams of running the Air Force, four-star general Mark R. Naird (Steve Carell) is thrown for a loop when he finds himself tapped to lead the newly formed sixth branch of the US Armed Forces: Space Force. 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 space dominance. From co-creators Carell and Greg Daniels (The Office), SPACE FORCE is a new kind of workplace comedy, where the stakes are sky high and the ambitions even higher."

Carell will be backed up by a lot of great comic actors, and a couple of surprising pics.

Image: Netflix/Space Force

That is Ben Schwartz, aka Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Recreation, aka Sonic the damn Hedgehog from Sonic the Hedgehog. He looks like he’s playing a jerk, but as long as it’s funny, bring it on.

Image: Netflix/Space Force

Space Force has Lisa Kudrow on tap, an asset to any comedy:

Image: Netflix/Space Force

Jimmy O. Yang from Silicon Valley looks like he’s playing a member of the “colorful team of scientists”:

Image: Netflix/Space Force Image: Netflix/Space Force

See the guy in the background? That is John Malkovich, my friends, ready to bring his icy stares and clipped sentences to the table:

Image: Netflix/Space Force Image: Netflix/Space Force

And Malkovich isn’t the only dramatic actor on board. Space Force also snagged Noah Emmerich, from The Americans:

Image: Netflix/Space Force

We’ve also got Don Lake…

Image: Netflix/Space Force

…Tawny Newsome…

Image: Netflix/Space Force

…and Diana Silvers in the mix.

Image: Netflix/Space Force

Does Space Force have an ice cream shop onsite? Good deal if you can get it.

Daniels is funny, Carell is funny, Kudrow is funny, Malkovich is horrifying…Everything looks good to go. Space Force hits Netflix on May 29. Will we still be confined to our homes desperate for new things to watch by then? Let’s find out!

Next. Ten sci-fi/fantasy shows to binge while sheltered in place. dark

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h/t The A.V. Club