In the realm of celebrity stunts and high-stakes film productions, few names loom larger than Tom Cruise. The acclaimed actor is renowned for his willingness to push the boundaries of what’s possible on the silver screen, performing death-defying feats that leave audiences in awe. Now, it seems Cruise has set his sights on an even more ambitious goal: shooting a movie in outer space.
However, as Elon Musk recently revealed, the status of this cosmic cinematic endeavor remains somewhat uncertain.
In a conversation with ET at the Breakthrough Prize ceremony, the SpaceX CEO provided an update on the progress of Cruise’s space movie plans. “Tom Cruise has said he wants to do Mission: Impossible in space,” Musk stated. “We’ve had some discussions, but I’m not sure where his mind is at.”
While Musk’s wording may have conflated Cruise’s space movie idea with the actor’s long-running Mission: Impossible franchise, the core message remains the same: the path forward for this extraterrestrial film project is still unclear.
As one of the leading figures in the private space industry, Musk and his company SpaceX would likely play a crucial role in facilitating Cruise’s space movie ambitions. The most daunting logistical challenge would be transporting the actor, along with any necessary crew and equipment, from Earth to orbit – a feat that only a handful of entities, like SpaceX, are currently capable of.
Details about the proposed space movie remain scarce, but reports have indicated that Cruise’s frequent collaborator, director Doug Liman, is working on a script and plans to helm the production. However, with Cruise’s schedule being dominated by the ongoing filming of back-to-back Mission: Impossible sequels, it’s understandable that his space movie plans may have taken a backseat for the time being.
It’s worth noting that Cruise is not the only high-profile figure to have expressed interest in filming in space. In 2020, a Russian production became the first to shoot scenes outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, beating Cruise to the punch. This development may have added a sense of urgency to Cruise’s own extraterrestrial cinematic ambitions.
Ultimately, while Elon Musk’s remarks suggest that the Tom Cruise space movie project remains in a state of flux, the actor’s unwavering determination and thirst for cinematic innovation make it seem likely that this cosmic endeavor will eventually come to fruition. Fans of Cruise and the art of filmmaking will undoubtedly continue to follow this story with bated breath, eager to see if the A-lister can truly push the boundaries of what’s possible on the big screen.
