Starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, “Fly Me To The Moon” is a stylish and witty comedy-drama set against the backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing.
Two big Hollywood stars meet for the first time on the big screen. Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum star in the film “Fly Me to the Moon,” a romantic comedy that escapes the usual formula of the genre and tells a rather peculiar story related to one of the most important missions to travel into space.
Set in the space race of the 1960s, the film tells the story of a false landing (as plan B) on the Moon orchestrated by NASA. Johansson plays Kelly Jones, part of the marketing team tasked with improving the public image of the US government agency, while Tatum takes on the role of Cole Davis, the launch director.
Johansson and Tatum’s on-screen chemistry is one of the strong points highlighted by the actress, who shared with People that working alongside Tatum was a new and rewarding experience. “Falling in love with him on screen was quite easy. He is a very nice person,” Johansson commented on her co-star.
Additionally, she delved into her character, Kelly Jones, describing her as “a very modern woman living in a time where women were often underestimated,” and highlighted how she uses this to her advantage, always staying one step ahead.
The film also has a supporting cast that includes Nick Dillenburg, Anna Garcia, Jim Rash, Noah Robbins, Colin Woodell, Christian Zuber, Donald Elise Watkins, Ray Romano, and Woody Harrelson.
Directed by Greg Berlanti and written by Rose Gilroy, “Fly Me to the Moon” not only stands out for its protagonists but also for the challenge of recreating one of the most iconic and discussed events in history: the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
Berlanti revealed that the inspiration behind the film was the idea of exploring whether the US government could have falsified this historic event, which led him to face the challenge of painstakingly recreating the famous images of the lunar landing.
“The most challenging thing was recreating the moon landing and the ways it could have been ‘faked’ at the time,” the director shared. This required a set the size of a baseball field, months of construction and design work, as well as a coordinated effort in lighting effects and stunt work.
The film promises to be a milestone not only for Johansson and Tatum meeting on screen for the first time but also for the originality and breadth of its concept. Johansson underlined the novelty that “Fly Me to the Moon” brings to the cinematographic panorama.
“I think audiences are missing a big-idea movie that’s both funny and moving and original, and they’re hungry for that. The film is totally entertaining and fresh,” said the actress about the production.
“Fly Me to the Moon” will be released in theaters on July 12, under a joint production of Apple Original Films and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The film will also be available for streaming on Apple TV+.