Universal's $200 million budget to fuel Cruise-Musk's space film
What's the story
Brace for impact as Universal Pictures has agreed to fund actor Tom Cruise and tech giant Elon Musk's ambitious space movie with a $200 million budget. Executives of the renowned studio approved of this stunning deal in a Zoom call meeting with Cruise, director Doug Liman, PJ van Sandwijk, and Christopher McQuarrie. Interestingly, the script of the film has not been written yet.
First-of-its-kind
The film will be shot in International Space Station
In order to scale new heights of science fiction filmmaking, Cruise had been in talks with NASA for the technological support needed to make this film happen. The space research agency found merit in participating in this first-of-its-kind venture where a major part of a Hollywood film will be shot in outer space, and that too, in the International Space Station.
Collaboration
When Musk indicated about his involvement in the project
It all started on May 6, when NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote on Twitter expressing excitement about this unique initiative. Musk replied to his tweet, saying, "Should be a lot of fun!", giving a clear indication of his involvement in this project. Thereafter, Liman attended the launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying two NASA astronauts on May 30.
Twitter Post
Should be a lot of fun, says Musk, echoing Bridenstine
Should be a lot of fun!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 5, 2020
Ground control
'Mission Impossible' director McQuarrie is there as well!
SpaceX is scheduled to collaborate right from the start of this project, a profitable association for the company's commercialization plans. Meanwhile, Mission Impossible director McQuarrie would obtain "ground control" as story advisor and producer of the film as Liman directs it. Universal's $200 million is a modest budget as the cast would film parts of the movie in zero gravity.
Context
Space-high expectations from Cruise
Speculations are rife this might be Cruise-Liman's Luna Park project that deals with an energy source from the moon. As for the 58-year-old actor, this project might be in line with his knack to do his own death-defying stunts, like what we've seen in the Mission Impossible franchise. To note, he was filming its seventh installment, before the shoot was stalled due to COVID-19.