After jaw-dropping superyachts, Russia is back in the news for winning a cinematic space race! Beating Tom Cruise to become the first film to be shot in space is the Russian film The Challenge. The movie will feature footage captured nearly 250 miles above Earth at the International Space Station (ISS). Produced by the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, the $15 million production stars real astronauts alongside Yulia Peresild, who plays cardiac surgeon Zhenya. The Challenge revolves around Zhenya, who becomes involved in space exploration after an emergency on the ISS. In comparison, Tom Cruise’s feature film had a massive budget of $200 million.
The trailer of the Russian feature film is out, and the movie is scheduled to hit the screens on April 20. Viewers will catch a glimpse of various stages of preparation for the movie on state-controlled TV channel Channel One to popularise Russia’s space activities and glorify the profession. Tom Cruise, on the other hand, had teamed up with The Bourne Identity director Doug Liman on the ambitious project several years ago. The megastar even roped in Universal Films Entertainment Group (UFEG)to secure the opportunity to visit the ISS along with a few cast and crew members to shoot the movie.
“I think Tom Cruise is taking us to space, he’s taking the world to space,” UFEG Chairman Donna Langley said, per BBC News. “That’s the plan. We have a great project in development with Tom … Taking a rocket up to the Space Station and shooting.” Cruise may not be the first star to release a space-related movie, but there is no doubt he will hit the ball out of the park (or space) when he makes his film.
