Tom Cruise has been described as a star with some of the most memorable films that can only be described as “out of this world” experiences.
But these terms in describing the actor might become literal if the actor’s plans to shoot a film in the International Space Station push through.
Cruise is reportedly working with Elon Musk to film at the station and they are being assisted by NASA. If approved, this would mark the first time an action-adventure film will be filmed off-planet.
“We’re excited to work with Tom Cruise on a film aboard the International Space Station,” said NASA’s Jim Bridenstine on Twitter.
“We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make NASA’s ambitious plans a reality.”
Of course, a lot of things need to be worked out before such an ambitious undertaking can get off the ground (pardon the pun) especially since no studio is as yet involved, reported Deadline. Still, in terms of concept, it’s a very exciting idea.
The project is likely part of the Mission: Impossible franchise where Cruise often performs his own stunts, unfortunately not all of them without injury. For instance, during the filming of Mission: Impossible Fallout, after leaping from one rooftop to the other, Cruise broke his ankle.
But it’s impressive how Cruise has tackled some of the most grueling stunt scenes. In Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation and Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, he scaled the iconic Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai some 123 floors up.
While stunt injury is a concern for the aging Cruise, at least in the ISS he won’t have gravity to worry about.
It’s not the first time Musk has dipped his feet into entertainment. He has had appearances in numerous TV shows and movies and often appears as himself.
Currently, Russia is the only country that can launch humans to and from the space station. But SpaceX and Boeing have been hard at work developing spacecraft that can give the United States that ability once more.
On May 27, a SpaceX rocket is set to make the first-ever launch of astronauts to the International Space Station.
In an earlier announcement, SpaceX said it’s willing to work with third-party companies to sell seat space aboard the Crew Dragon space rocket. Each seat will go for a cool $50 million each.
It’s not the first time a film had been shot aboard the space station. Cruise himself narrated a 2002 IMAX documentary that was filmed at the station.
And in 2012, a science fiction film called Apogee of Fear was also filmed at the station by space tourist and entrepreneur Richard Garriott, the son of an astronaut.
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