It looks like Tom Cruise will not be the first to shoot a movie in outer space, as a Russian film crew is already making their way to the International Space Station to begin filming a new feature.
Reports indicate that a Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft blasted off in Kazakhstan at 4:55 am ET on October 5th headed towards the International Space Station (ISS). Onboard were veteran Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, leading actor Yulia Peresild, and film producer Klim Shipenko. The crew plans on filming bits for a feature that is titled The Challenge.
The Challenge will focus on a cardiac surgeon (played by Peresild) who is sent into orbit and tasked with saving a sick cosmonaut in outer space due to the cosmonaut's health preventing him from returning to Earth safely. The film crew arrived at the space station around 8:22 AM ET, docking with the ISS in manual control after the automatic docking system ran into some issues. According to CNN, Peresild said, "Everything was new to us today, every 30 seconds brought something entirely new. It is almost impossible to think that this all came to reality. I also feel like I'm still dreaming." The crew joined seven others waiting at ISS, and although Shkaplerov plans to stay on board, Peresild and Shipenko have only 12 days to finish filming their space scenes. The actress and producer will be returning to Kazakhstan on October 16th.
Although filming in space presents new exciting opportunities, not everyone has been fond of it. Mikhail Kornienko, another cosmonaut, noted to BBC Russian that he was opposed to the whole project and the idea surrounding it, adding "The ISS is no place for performers, all sorts of clowns or tourists. It's a huge space lab and you shouldn't get in the way of professional work."
Cruise has always been known for pushing the boundaries when it comes to filmmaking, particularly in the massive stunts that he is always involved in. Cruise has been planning with NASA and billionaire Elon Musk to film in space under the direction of long-time collaborator Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow, American Made), hoping to become the first to accomplish such as feat. But it appears he'll have to bow down to the space race's victors.
Cruise recently wrapped filming on his upcoming Mission: Impossible 7 sequel (set for a September 30th, 2022 release) and will soon begin shooting Mission: Impossible 8. Once Cruise finishes his Mission: Impossible franchise (which many believe to be concluding after the 8th film), moviegoers shouldn't be surprised if the action star resumes his filming in space aspirations to deliver another bold experience.
Top Gun: Maverick is set to release on May 27, 2022.