is tom cruise in space

Tom Cruise’s Space Movie Will Make Him the ‘First Civilian to Do a Spacewalk Outside of the Space Station,’ Universal Boss Says

By Zack Sharf

Digital News Director

• ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Doesn’t Require Prior MCU Knowledge Because ‘I’m Definitely Not Looking to Do Homework When I Go to the Movies,’ Says Shawn Levy 1 day ago
• Melanie Lynskey Says Husband Jason Ritter Is ‘Sacrificing’ His Acting Career So Hers Can Succeed: He’s ‘Getting Offered Stuff All the Time’ and Turning It Down 1 day ago
• Aaron Sorkin Is Writing Some Kind of ‘Social Network’ Sequel Because ‘I Blame Facebook For January 6’ Riot at the U.S. Capitol 2 days ago

Tom Cruise will “hopefully” become “the first civilian to do a spacewalk” outside of the International Space Station when he blasts off to space to shoot a new action movie with director Doug Liman . Donna Langley , the head of Universal Pictures , teased as much during a recent BBC interview . Universal is backing the Cruise space project, which reportedly carries a budget in the $200 million range. While it was already known the movie would shoot scenes on the ISS, Langley said the plan is to also have Cruise perform a spacewalk.

Popular on Variety

Liman and Cruise previously collaborated on films such as “Edge of Tomorrow” (2014) and “American Made” (2017). Further plot details about the duo’s space movie are being kept under wraps, although they are working with both NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX company. No Hollywood studio has ever filmed a narrative feature film in space before.

“When a producer proposes something crazy to you, like, let’s try to shoot a movie in outer space, and NASA and SpaceX sign on, and Tom Cruise signs on… you’re just a little bit more receptive,” Liman told Thrillist last year about boarding the project.

Sources previously told Variety the film’s production budget has been set at $200 million. Cruise could earn somewhere between $30 million and $60 million, according to insiders. This would cover his services as a producer and star, and also be comprised of significant first-dollar gross participation.

More From Our Brands

Salma hayek joins madonna for ‘vogue’ in mexico city, inside a $3.3 million one-bedroom condo in l.a.’s famed sierra towers, vince mcmahon lists final tko shares for sale, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, fire country: did luke’s bombshell blow up [spoiler]’s future michael trucco teases what’s ahead, verify it's you, please log in.

By Kenneth Chang

• Sept. 17, 2021

Maverick has called space.

The Inspiration4 crew has talked to the actor Tom Cruise: Maverick was the call sign of his fighter pilot character in the 1986 movie “Top Gun.”

Rook, Nova, Hanks, and Leo spoke to @TomCruise sharing their experience from space. Maverick, you can be our wingman anytime. pic.twitter.com/5YTfyRZhrd — Inspiration4 (@inspiration4x) September 17, 2021

Like the Top Gun character, the four astronauts orbiting Earth have their own call signs. Jared Isaacman, the billionaire underwriting the mission, has flown fighter jets and already had a call sign: Rook, short for rookie. As part of the training for flying to orbit, Mr. Isaacman took his crewmates up in the air for fighter jet flights so they could experience high-G forces during sharp turns.

The other three crew members chose their own call signs. Hayley Arceneaux is Nova, Sian Proctor is Leo and Christopher Sembroski is Hanks.

Mr. Cruise also has space dreams. In May 2020, Jim Bridenstine, then the administrator of NASA, confirmed that the space agency had talked with Mr. Cruise about shooting a film on the International Space Station.

Since then, there has been no update about the progress of the movie or when Mr. Cruise may blast off. But he will return to the cockpit in a sequel called “Top Gun: Maverick,” now expected to be released in May 2022.

But if he does go, he will probably not be the first actor shooting a movie in space. A Russian actress and a director are scheduled to visit the space station next month to make a movie named “Challenge,” about a surgeon sent to orbit to save the life of a Russian astronaut.

Kenneth Chang has been at The Times since 2000, writing about physics, geology, chemistry, and the planets. Before becoming a science writer, he was a graduate student whose research involved the control of chaos. More about Kenneth Chang

What’s Up in Space and Astronomy

Keep track of things going on in our solar system and all around the universe..

Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other 2024 event  that’s out of this world with  our space and astronomy calendar .

Scientists may have discovered a major flaw in their understanding of dark energy, a mysterious cosmic force . That could be good news for the fate of the universe.

A new set of computer simulations, which take into account the effects of stars moving past our solar system, has effectively made it harder to predict Earth’s future and reconstruct its past.

Dante Lauretta, the planetary scientist who led the OSIRIS-REx mission to retrieve a handful of space dust , discusses his next final frontier.

A nova named T Coronae Borealis lit up the night about 80 years ago. Astronomers say it’s expected to put on another show  in the coming months.

Is Pluto a planet? And what is a planet, anyway? Test your knowledge here .

UK company behind Tom Cruise space film unveils plans to launch space movie studio

Introducing see-1, reportedly coming in 2024.

By Loren Grush

Share this story

On Thursday, a UK-based company that claims to be producing Tom Cruise’s upcoming film in space said it plans to attach the first-ever space movie studio and sports arena to the International Space Station as early as 2024.

Called Space Entertainment Enterprise, or S.E.E., the company also announced it is working with commercial space station builder Axiom Space, which has its own partnership with NASA to build and attach an experimental space station to the ISS. That station is called Axiom Station, and Axiom hopes to launch its first module, called Axiom Hub 1, to the ISS by 2024. The company will then build out the space station before eventually separating it from the ISS in 2028 and making it a free-flying vehicle.

S.E.E. plans to attach its own module to the new growing space station in December of 2024

But while Axiom Station is attached to the ISS, S.E.E. plans to attach its own module to the growing space station in December of 2024. Dubbed SEE-1, the module will be available to individuals who want to film or live stream content in space, “including films, television, music, and sports events,” according to a press release announcing the news. Animated videos and images of SEE-1 on the company’s website show the module as a giant white sphere, though there were no available designs of what the interior will look like.

Though the module will belong to S.E.E., it is being built by Axiom Space. According to the S.E.E. press release, it will be an inflatable module that will stretch up to 6 meters, or nearly 20 feet, in diameter. S.E.E. says that it will allow third parties to also use the studio for their own projects. No costs or estimated budgets were provided for the project, nor did S.E.E. detail how much it would charge others to use the studio.

“Adding a dedicated entertainment venue to Axiom Station’s commercial capabilities in the form of SEE-1 will expand the station’s utility as a platform for a global user base and highlight the range of opportunities the new space economy offers,” Michael Suffredini, Axiom’s CEO, said in a statement.

S.E.E. also revealed itself to be the production company behind Tom Cruise’s mystery space movie

With today’s announcement, S.E.E. also revealed itself to be the production company behind Tom Cruise’s mystery space movie. In 2020, NASA announced that it was working with the famous actor to potentially send him to the International Space Station to film a project. The actor’s ride to space is reportedly SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which is used to ferry NASA astronauts to and from the ISS.

Later, NASA confirmed in a podcast that Axiom was going to be involved in getting Tom Cruise to orbit . While Axiom builds space stations, it has also contracted with NASA and SpaceX to buy rides on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to send private individuals to the ISS. Axiom’s first private astronaut mission on a Crew Dragon, called Axiom-1, is scheduled to take flight in March . However, there’s no set date or confirmation for Tom Cruise’s flight. As for what Cruise plans to film up in the cosmos, all that’s been reported so far is that director Doug Liman is involved and that the film will not be a Mission: Impossible movie.

S.E.E. was co-founded by producers Elena and Dmitry Lesnevsky. Their company boasts an impressive list of consultants of former Viacom and HBO executives. The company says it’s currently looking for investors on the Tom Cruise space project, which Deadline reported in 2020 would have a budget of at least $200 million.

However, it’s possible the budget could be even higher, given how much going to space costs. Just one seat on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is thought to run around $55 million , plus NASA charges additional fees for private astronauts using the space station’s facilities while in orbit. S.E.E. says it plans to conduct a fundraising round soon.

The walls of Apple’s garden are tumbling down

I traded in my macbook and now i’m a desktop convert, the apple vision pro’s ebay prices are making me sad, how to delete the data google has on you, blizzcon 2024 has been canceled.

More from Science

Amazon — like SpaceX — claims the labor board is unconstitutional

How much electricity does AI consume?

A Big Tech-backed campaign to plant trees might have taken a wrong turn

SpaceX successfully launches Odysseus in bid to return US to the lunar surface

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

• Backchannel
• Newsletters
• WIRED Insider
• WIRED Consulting

Angela Watercutter

Tom Cruise Is Making a Movie in Space With SpaceX and NASA

Greetings, earthlings. Welcome to another edition of The Monitor , WIRED’s entertainment news roundup. This time around we have news about a Labyrinth sequel (nearly 35 years later, but we’ll take it), a new pandemic-ready movie that was shot on an iPhone, and Tom Cruise's plans to film in space. Here, let us explain.

As you might recall, a few weeks ago we told you about some rumors flying around Hollywood suggesting that Tom Cruise wanted to shoot a movie in space with the help of NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX . Turns out, there was something to them after all. Per a report on Deadline , director Doug Liman, who directed Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow , is on board to helm a new action film that will enlist the help of NASA and SpaceX for at least some of the filming.

Little is known about the plot, but Deadline’s report notes that Liman wrote the first draft of the script and Cruise is a producer on the film. Given the current pandemic and the training Cruise and others will likely have to go through, there’s no telling exactly when the film could start production, but it looks like this one might actually happen. Let’s see if we can get #SendTomCruiseToSpace trending.

Speaking of surprising news, Labyrinth is getting a sequel. Deadline is reporting that Scott Derrickson will direct the follow-up to the 1986 Jim Henson classic. The movie, which has the backing of the Jim Henson Company, will be written by Maggie Levin, who wrote and directed the “My Valentine” installment of Hulu’s Into the Dark . Derrickson recently stepped away from the sequel to his Marvel film Doctor Strange over creative differences.

If there’s one movie that encompasses Right Now, it might be IWeirDo . The rom-com and debut feature from Taiwan’s Liao Ming-Yi was filmed entirely using an iPhone XS and features two soulmates—a girl who is a germophobe and a guy who is almost constantly washing his hands. Oh, also you’ll be able to watch its premiere online due to the coronavirus . The film is opening the Far East Film Festival , which typically takes place in Udine, Italy, but this year is happening online as that country continues to deal with Covid-19. The festival will take place June 26 to July 4, and IWeirDo will premiere on Italian site MyMovies .

• The stockbrokers of Magic: The Gathering play for keeps
• Hey kids! Read these books during your very. Long. Summer
• How to avoid spam— using disposable contact information
• Tips for making better coffee at home
• 27 days in Tokyo Bay: What happened on the Diamond Princess
• 👁 Is the brain a useful model for AI ? Plus: Get the latest AI news
• 🎧 Things not sounding right? Check out our favorite wireless headphones , soundbars , and Bluetooth speakers

Matt Jancer

David Nield

WIRED Readers

Jennifer M. Wood

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Tom Cruise and NASA are officially shooting a movie in space

For his next stunt, Tom Cruise is heading to space.

On Tuesday, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the organization is collaborating with Tom Cruise on a movie filmed aboard the space station.

"NASA is excited to work with @TomCruise on a film aboard the @Space_Station! We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASA’s ambitious plans a reality," he tweeted.

This follows Deadline's reporting on Monday that Cruise, Elon Musk's SpaceX, and NASA are working on the first narrative feature film to be shot in space. It's not part of the Mission: Impossible franchise and no studio has been attached at this time, according to the report.

Given that Cruise has executed endless stunts and sustained numerous injuries throughout his career, it makes sense his next adventure would even more thrilling than the last. However, it's not yet clear what role he'll be playing in the production. EW has reached out to representatives for NASA, Cruise, and SpaceX for further comment.

In February, Cruise's latest Mission Impossible movie became one of the first to halt production due to COVID-19. Mission: Impossible 7 was filming in Italy, the epicenter for the coronavirus outside of Asia.

Related content:

• Mission: Impossible 7 halts production in Italy due to threat of coronavirus
• See first trailer for Steve Carell's new Netflix comedy Space Force
• Val Kilmer recalls partying, pranking Tom Cruise on Top Gun set in new memoir

Related Articles

• Cast & crew

Untitled Tom Cruise/SpaceX Project

Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman travel far beyond Earth to film the first ever Hollywood motion picture in outer space Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman travel far beyond Earth to film the first ever Hollywood motion picture in outer space Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman travel far beyond Earth to film the first ever Hollywood motion picture in outer space

• Christopher McQuarrie

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Planned to be shot in the ISS, with help from NASA and SpaceX.
• United States
• Storyteller Productions
• Space Couple Film
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $200,000,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

Related news, contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

Art Meets Science

Tom Cruise Might Become the First Civilian to Spacewalk at the ISS

Universal is game to send Cruise into space for a proposed action film, but plans aren’t official yet

Daily Correspondent

Astronauts spend years undergoing rigorous training before they make their first trip into space. And before becoming astronauts, they usually already have years of experience in related fields, such as engineering, geology, aeronautics, physics, medicine and biology; many have doctorates or have seen military combat.

But for actor Tom Cruise , a trip to space might just be another day at the office. Cruise hopes to shoot scenes for an as-yet-untitled action film at the International Space Station (ISS) in the near future. If he succeeds, he’d become “the first civilian to do a spacewalk outside of the space station,” according to Donna Langley , chairman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group.

In a lengthy interview with the BBC ’s Katie Razzall, Langley reveals a few more details about the proposed movie, which is “still an aspiration at this stage,” per the BBC.

“Tom Cruise is taking us to space, he’s taking the world to space,” Langley tells the BBC. “That’s the plan. We have a great project in development with Tom.”

Cruise and director Doug Liman , who worked together on the 2014 movie Edge of Tomorrow , pitched the idea for the new film to Langley on a Zoom call during the pandemic. Though she didn’t share too many specific details about the plot, the general gist is that the storyline “actually takes place on earth, and then the character needs to go up to space to save the day.”

Cruise is already known for doing many of his own stunts, including some potentially dangerous ones , so it comes as no surprise that he’s willing to take a rocket to the space station for the sake of cinema. As Daniel Kreps writes for Rolling Stone , it’s unclear whether Cruise would actually go inside the ISS or just walk around outside of the orbiting laboratory.

NASA, for its part, seems willing to collaborate on the movie. Though he has since deleted the tweet, former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote in May 2020 that the agency is looking forward to working with Cruise. “We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make NASA’s ambitious plans a reality,” he wrote. Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, which is working with NASA on a number of projects, replied that the project “should be a lot of fun!” As Deadline ’s Mike Fleming Jr. reported at the time, Musk, Cruise and NASA were all reportedly working together to make the film a reality.

Despite his lack of official astronaut training, Cruise does have some cinematic experience with space and aviation. In 2013, he played a futuristic drone technician who must defend Earth against alien invaders in Oblivion . He also narrated the 2002 Imax documentary Space Station 3D . One of his most popular air-and-space-related films, of course, is Top Gun , the 1986 flick about Navy fighter pilots. Cruise also recently starred in the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick .

Since the space station’s launch nearly 24 years ago in 1998, ISS crewmembers have made just 253 spacewalks —in other words, they’re not something NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Roscosmos or any of the other major space station partners take lightly. Spacewalks are inherently dangerous and, as such, NASA has a whole slew of rules and guidelines around them. As Paola Rosa-Aquino writes for Space.com , they’re also expensive and time-consuming—whenever possible, crewmembers try to use robotic arms to work outside the ISS.

Sometimes, though, astronauts (and Russian cosmonauts) have to go on spacewalks as a last resort. They typically have very specific reasons for leaving the space station, such as performing maintenance or installing new equipment. NASA calls these adventures “extravehicular activities.”

Wearing highly specialized suits outfitted with life support gear, crewmembers depart the space station through a special set of airlock doors. They remain attached to the space station via tethers, and they usually spend five to eight hours in space while completing their objectives.

Astronauts must complete special training before they undertake spacewalks. They spend a lot of time at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory near the Johnson Space Center in Houston. There, they practice spacewalks in a  6.2-million-gallon pool  in which they neither sink nor float. For every hour a crewmember will spend on an ISS spacewalk, they must spend seven hours in the pool, per NASA . They also train via virtual reality technologies that simulate extravehicular activities.

If Cruise ever does make it into orbit, there is another thing he’ll have to keep in mind: remembering to focus in the face of the vast cosmos. And that’s not necessarily an easy feat, as NASA astronaut Mike Fincke told CNN ’s Ashley Strickland last year.

“It’s really truly breathtaking,” he told the publication. “The only thing between you and the rest of the universe, seeing the whole cosmos of creation, is the glass faceplate of your visor on your helmet, and it’s just awe-inspiring.”

Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Sarah Kuta | READ MORE

Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics.

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Film studio to be launched in space in 2024.

The SEE-1 studio module, to be attached to a new commercial space station, comes from the company co-producing Tom Cruise's upcoming space movie.

By Alex Ritman

Alex Ritman

U.K. Correspondent

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Email
• Show additional share options
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Pinit
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Print
• Share this article on Comment

Shooting scenes in space in front of a greenscreen may soon become a thing of the past.

Space Entertainment Enterprise (SEE) — the company co-producing Tom Cruise’s upcoming space movie with Doug Liman — has revealed plans to launch a TV and film studio, alongside a streaming content studio and sports arena, in space, scheduled for a late 2024 opening.

Named SEE-1, the microgravity film, TV, sport and entertainment production and broadcast module — a world first — would be fitted to the Axiom Station, a commercial space station being built by Axiom Space that would attach to the current International Space Station before orbiting on its own.

Related Stories

Korean rock group the rose on coachella debut, new fragrance and their next album, king charles to resume royal duties after cancer diagnosis.

Plans for the module include hosting film, TV, music and sports events, as well as artists, producers and creatives who want to produce content in the low-orbit microgravity environment, while also enabling the development, production, recording, broadcasting and live-streaming of content. SEE also intends to produce its own content and events in the module as well as make them available to third parties.

SEE is co-founded by Elena and Dmitry Lesnevsky, who are co-producing Cruise’s first ever Hollywood motion picture filmed in outer space. Its partners, consultants and advisors include former HBO, Endemol and Viacom execs, alongside NYC-based investment bank GH Partners. The company is currently in discussions with investors and commercial partners on the project with a further fundraising round planned shortly.

“SEE-1 is an incredible opportunity for humanity to move into a different realm and start an exciting new chapter in space,” said Dmitry and Elena Lesnevsky. “It will provide a unique, and accessible home for boundless entertainment possibilities in a venue packed with innovative infrastructure which will unleash a new world of creativity. With worldwide leader Axiom Space building this cutting-edge, revolutionary facility, SEE-1 will provide not only the first, but also the supreme quality space structure enabling the expansion of the two trillion-dollar global entertainment industry into low-Earth orbit.”

SEE-1 is scheduled to become operational in December 2024, early in Axiom Station’s on-orbit assembly. When the station’s initial configuration is completed and it is ready to separate from the ISS in 2028, the studio module is set to comprise one-fifth of its total volume.

“From Jules Verne to Star Trek , science fiction entertainment has inspired millions of people around the world to dream about what the future might bring,” said SEE’s COO Richard Johnston. “Creating a next-generation entertainment venue in space opens countless doors to create incredible new content and make these dreams a reality.”

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Ray chan, art director and production designer for marvel films, dies at 56, box office: zendaya’s ‘challengers’ serving up $14m-$15m opening for no. 1 finish, pauly shore says he “was up all night crying” after richard simmons blasted biopic, ethan hawke shares denzel washington’s advice on winning an oscar, ‘kraven the hunter,’ ‘karate kid’ pushed back by sony, hot docs festival: middle eastern films get spotlight amid israel-hamas war.

Tom Cruise Reveals Tentative Progress on His Ambitious Space Film Project

Tom Cruise shares an update on his planned outer space film in partnership with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The audacious Hollywood legend, Tom Cruise , known for his box-office hits and nerve-wracking stunts, has recently provided a cautious yet intriguing update about his previously announced space movie. This announcement came three years after his project's initial reveal, piquing the curiosity of fans and industry insiders alike.The original news came out in May 2020 about an unprecedented endeavor to film in space. Teaming up with his Edge of Tomorrow director, Doug Liman, the ambitious film planned to leverage Elon Musk's SpaceX program for scenes shot on the International Space Station (ISS).While the film's initial space launch was planned for October 2021, delays pushed it back, resulting in Russia's The Challenge becoming the first film to professionally shoot an actor in space.Cruise, during his red-carpet appearance for the New York premiere of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One , spoke to Variety about this high-stakes project. While he admitted that the final timeline for shooting in space is still uncertain, he confirmed his commitment and active engagement in the process. Cruise noted,

"I don't know yet. We've been working on it diligently, and we'll see where we go."

For over forty years, Cruise has shown an unstoppable drive to push action and realism in films. Whether flying a pricey Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet or climbing the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, Cruise isn't afraid to face danger.

Tweet shared by @Variety

RELATED: Mission: Impossible 7 Clip Goes Behind the Scenes of Tom Cruise's Speedflying Stunt

A Potential Revolution for Hollywood Cinema – Outer Space Filming

Cruise’s pursuit of authenticity, opting for real stunts over CGI, has consistently resonated with audiences, keeping the box-office registers ringing even as some other big-budget blockbusters struggle. Given his impressive stunt record, Cruise's aspiration to film in space appears to be a natural progression. The world watched as he harnessed almost every conceivable Earth-bound vehicle for his breathtaking scenes.

Now, space – the final frontier – has grabbed the relentless actor's attention. Cruise may have missed the opportunity to make the first movie in space, but the existing details hint that he aims to become the first civilian to perform a spacewalk on the ISS.

The latest update from Cruise might not offer a clear timeline for his space venture, but it certainly confirms his unwavering interest. His most recent action thriller, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One , is already receiving high praise. It leaves fans and critics wondering about the impact this off-world project could have on cinema when it finally breaks through the Earth's atmosphere.

Without a doubt, Cruise's boldest project to date could usher in a revolutionary period for Hollywood cinema. This new project would cement his status as a transformative figure in the industry. Cruise has been consistently fearless in his exploration of uncharted territories.

Watch CBS News

Tom Cruise plans to film a movie in space — and could be the first civilian to do a spacewalk

By Li Cohen

October 11, 2022 / 11:57 AM EDT / CBS News

Tom Cruise's next mission could make history. If the plans for an upcoming film come through, he would fly to space to film the moment where he helps save the planet. 

Donna Langley, chairman of Universal Film Entertainment Group, told the BBC in an interview last week that the 60-year-old "Mission Impossible" and "Top Gun" actor will be "taking the world to space." 

"That's the plan. We have a great project in development with Tom that does contemplate him doing just that," she said, "taking a rocket up to the space station and shooting and hopefully being the first civilian to do a spacewalk outside of the space station." 

She said the film request came from Cruise directly and that he is in close collaboration with director Doug Liman, who previously worked with Cruise in 2014's "Edge of Tomorrow" and is also known for "The Bourne Identity" franchise, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and "Jumper." 

"During the pandemic, he asked for a Zoom call with us and got onto the call and said, 'Guys, I have this great project and here it is,'" Langley recalled in the interview. 

The title and details of the film have not been announced, but Langley said the majority of the story will take place on Earth before Cruise's character "needs to go up to space to save the day." 

The project was first confirmed in 2020 by NASA's then-director Jim Bridenstine. Deadline reported at that time that Elon Musk's SpaceX was also going to collaborate on the film. 

Space Entertainment Enterprise announced in January this year that it would work with Axiom Space to build a content and entertainment studio and "multi-purpose arena" space station module. The venture, called SEE-1, is planned to launch in late 2024 and would be connected to the Axiom Station, a commercial module planned for the International Space Station. 

Last year, Russian actress Julia Peresild and filmmaker Klim Shipenko  spent 12 days aboard the International Space Station working on the first feature film shot in space , with Peresild playing s a doctor making an emergency house call in orbit.

• International Space Station

Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.

More from CBS News

What's Going On With Tom Cruise's Space Movie? Here's What Elon Musk Says

Elon Musk speaks out on Tom Cruise's plan to make a movie in space.

Tom Cruise is a guy who is willing to perform incredible feats for the sake of his movies. He insists on doing his own stunts, which has resulted in Cruise free climbing buildings and jumping off cliffs. At this point, it seems the only thing Cruise hasn’t done is spacewalk, and that's potentially in the cards.There has been talk in the past about Tom Cruise filming a movie in space , but for that to happen, somebody has to be able to get him up there. On that note, Elon Musk has been linked to the production for a while and has now provided an update on its status.

The SpaceX CEO recently caught up with ET at the Breakthrough Prize ceremony and discussed a few topics with the news outlet. Eventually, he provided some thoughts on Tom Cruise's proposed space movie. The tech magnate revealed that he's spoken to the A-lister, but the latter half of his update may disappoint some people:

Tom Cruise has said he wants to do Mission: Impossible in space. We've had some discussions, but I'm not sure where his mind is at.

While Elon Musk calls it “ Mission: Impossible in space,” he’s likely conflating the actor's major franchise with the space movie idea, which as far as we know are separate projects. There have been no indications, at this point, that the Oscar nominee's plans to film a movie in space also involve the M:I franchise. Still, Musk, or somebody like him, is going to be key to a project like this. The most complex part of the whole endeavor would be figuring out how to get the Top Gun icon, any other needed actors, and all the necessary equipment, from Earth into orbit, and that's where Space X would come in. 

Why Tom Cruise Fired Mission: Impossible’s Insurance Company

We don’t know what the upcoming Tom Cruise movie set in space would be about, and it's not even clear just how many people within his inner circle are aware of that info. While the expectation is that only part of the Cruise movie would occur in space , there are a lot of unknowns here. 

Per reported details on the space movie , frequent Cruise collaborator Doug Liman is working on a script and plans to direct the project as well. Perhaps, now that Liman’s done with Road House , which he wanted a theatrical release for, he’ll have more time to dedicate to Cruise's cosmic movie.

It’s maybe not surprising that there hasn’t been a lot of movement on the actor's feature. He’s been pretty busy filming two back-to-back Mission: Impossible movies, one of which had to struggle through a global pandemic. He’s had a lot going on and probably hasn’t had the time to focus on his potential movie in outer space. His film aimed to be the first to be shot in outer space. However, a Russian production ended up winning that space race , becoming the first to shoot scenes outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. 

Generally speaking, what Tom Cruise wants, Tom Cruise gets, so it seems likely that if the actor wants to shoot a movie in space, it will happen eventually. When any of this could actually happen is still very much an open question. We know that Top Gun 3 is also in development and, if Cruise does go to work on that after finishing the (now-untitled) Mission: Impossible sequel, then his dreams of heading to space (with the help of Elon Musk) will have to wait even longer. 

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.

The Best Dads In Action Movies

Chris Pine Can Effortlessly Rock A Red Carpet In Shorts And Hiking Boots, But Revealed He Was 'Absolutely Terrified' At His First Premiere

With Chicago P.D. Finale Approaching, Dick Wolf Television Is Heading Down South For New Crime Series

Most Popular

• 2 Why Bob Hearts Abishola Star Billy Gardell Thinks The Ending Needs To Be Like Mike And Molly
• 3 I Watched The Bluey Episode "The Sign": Why I Think The Show Should Stick With Longer Episodes From Now On
• 4 Shōgun’s Director Talks About Filming Episode 9’s Spoilery Death Scene, And How A Positive COVID Test Almost Derailed The Whole Thing
• 5 Disney+ Dropped A Pic With Jeremy Allen White, Tom Hiddleston And Logan Lerman All Suited Up, And The Fanbases Are All Uniting To Stan

site categories

Bob bakish to step down as paramount global ceo amid skydance talks, breaking news.

Out Of This World! Tom Cruise Plots Movie To Shoot In Space With Elon Musk’s SpaceX

By Mike Fleming Jr

Mike Fleming Jr

Co-Editor-in-Chief, Film

More Stories By Mike

• Producers United Is Launched By 86 Top Film & TV “Career Producers” To Change Fee Structure, Get Health Benefits & Stop Gradual Ecosystem Erosion
• New Line Front-Runner To Land Chris Farley Biopic Package Starring Paul Walter Hauser With Josh Gad Directing: The Dish
• Hot Cannes Package: Chris Pratt & McG Turn Jocko Willink Novel ‘Way Of The Warrior Kid’ Into Film

EXCLUSIVE : I’m hearing that Tom Cruise and Elon Musk ‘s Space X are working on a project with NASA that would be the first narrative feature film – an action adventure – to be shot in outer space. It’s not a Mission: Impossible film and no studio is in the mix at this stage but look for more news as I get it. But this is real, albeit in the early stages of liftoff.

Mission: Impossible Fallout took a break, literally when he broke his ankle in a leap from one rooftop to the other and he also hung from a helicopter; he hung from the side of a jet plane during takeoff in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation , and in Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol he scaled the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai skyscraper, and executed stunts 123 floors up. He is meticulous in preparing these stunts he does, which are frightening just to watch.

There has never been a leading man (Jackie Chan might dispute this) who puts himself at risk as often as does Cruise, in the name of the most realistic action sequences possible. If he is successful shooting a project in Musk’s space ship, he will be alone in the Hollywood record books. Stay tuned.

UPDATE : NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on Tuesday confirmed Deadline’s scoop.

NASA is excited to work with @TomCruise on a film aboard the @Space_Station ! We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASA ’s ambitious plans a reality. pic.twitter.com/CaPwfXtfUv — Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) May 5, 2020

Related Deadline Video

Must read stories, joe biden & colin jost roast donald trump; red carpet + party photos.

CBS Axes Series After 3 Seasons; Lachey “Gutted”; Stars, Creators React

Zendaya’s ‘challengers’ looks to hit $15 million in its opening set, 86 top “career producers” launch collective to address fees, benefits & more.

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.

Read More About:

102 comments.

Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

• Entertainment
• Celebrities
• Ticket Sales
• Promoted: What to Watch on Prime Video

Recommended

Tom cruise lost the $200m cinematic space race to the russians.

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Russia has rocketed past “Top Gun” star Tom Cruise in the race to launch cinema in outer space.

A Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft blasted off at 4:55 a.m. ET on Tuesday in Kazakhstan with a crew of Russian actors, producers and, of course, legitimate cosmonauts (as they’re called in the country), on their way to the International Space Station to begin filming scenes for “The Challenge.”

The show to appear on Russia’s Channel One is the first feature film to be shot in outer space — and well before Cruise, 59, had the chance to produce his $200 million space-based action flick . The Hollywood daredevil brokered a deal between NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX last year to bring the film, with direction from Doug Liman (“American Made”), to the big screen.

Channel One broadcasted the launch live, featuring actor Yulia Peresild, 37, director Klim Shipenko, 38, and veteran cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, 49, which they aired across multiple viewing platforms and languages. Upon docking around 8:12 a.m. on Tuesday, they’re scheduled to spend 12 days at the already crowded space station, with crews from NASA, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, as part of the Expedition 65, according to NASA’s space station blog .

The show’s storyline follows as a Russian doctor (Pereslid) is sent to the ISS to save the life of one of the cosmonauts onboard. Expedition 65 crew members will also be depicted in the film.

The project marks the “expansion of commercial space opportunities to include feature filmmaking,” NASA said in a statement on Tuesday, though it’s been said that Russia’s rush to bring outer space to the silver screen was spurred, in part, by rumors that the US’s Tom Cruise may get there first.

The three members of the Soyuz MS-19 crew ship are flying around the station nearing their port for an 8:12am ET docking today. https://t.co/yuOTrZ4Jut pic.twitter.com/IgklvSq5i0 — International Space Station (@Space_Station) October 5, 2021

The two nations have of course rivaled each other in the ongoing space race, beginning in the 1960s as the then Soviet Union became the first to put humans in space, but fell behind in 1969 when the US made Neil Armstrong the first person to walk on the moon.

Cruise and Liman are reportedly scheduled to make their first trip to the ISS sometime before the end of 2021. NASA’S administrator Jim Bridenstine said last year that the agency is “all in” on the production, adding that if Cruise can “[inspire] the next generation Elon Musk … then we’re all for it.”

Director Shipenko and actor Pereslid were said to have endured extensive physical training for the production, such as zero-gravity fights and parachute training, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Shipenko, known recently for his work on Russian comedy “Son of a Rich” (or “Serf,” translated directly) in 2019, appeared at a press conference on Monday, and described their demanding, monthslong schedule in the lead-up to Tuesday launch.

He explained, “We underwent an accelerated course of many important elements that the cosmonauts study over many years. We tried to master them in four months.”

Despite this, he described the prospect of civilians in space as “a rather feasible task.”

“Of course, this is very fast,” Shipenko said of the timeline. “We had a lot of theory, practice, endurance, sports — everything imaginable. It seems to me, this is a rather feasible task — naturally not to become a cosmonaut at the level of Anton and other professionals, but to prepare as a participant of a space flight.” 

He added, “The entire time we worked very hard. Despite our cheerful disposition and smiles, we got very tired. Had I been told this once again, of course, I would come here understanding the matter. But I still would come.”

Meanwhile, Musk was recently touting the premiere of his reality series “Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space,” which documents the training and launch of SpaceX’s all-civilian orbital space journey — the first in history . The team of four made a successful water landing off the coast of Florida last month, serving as proof-positive for the safety and success of the burgeoning commercial space flight business.

Share this article:

Advertisement

Screen Rant

This 20-year-old tom cruise movie can lay the blueprint for his future after mission: impossible.

Tom Cruise won’t be able to do Mission: Impossible movies forever, but one of his old movies may have paved the way for his acting future.

• Tom Cruise's action star status faces a challenge as he ages, so exploring villain roles could be the key to his future success after Mission: Impossible .
• A return to the character depth of his role in Collateral could provide Cruise with exciting new opportunities in his career.
• Practical stunt work sets Cruise apart in action films, but taking on antagonistic roles could help him stay relevant in the industry.

Tom Cruise has been a movie star for over forty years, and one of his most underrated films could be the key to the next phase of his career after Mission: Impossible . Cruise, in his most recent star era, has become synonymous with daring stunt work and large action set pieces in his blockbuster films. The two most notable examples are his long-running Mission: Impossible franchise, which is currently filming its eighth installment, and Top Gun: Maverick , which was the highest-grossing film of 2022 .

In many ways, Cruise is as popular as he's ever been and remains one of the last examples of a true movie star. There's just one issue he faces, and it's one that will only get worse with time: he's now in his 60s. He's still in amazing shape for his age and can still perform all the stunts his action roles require of him. Yet, at a certain point, Cruise just won't be able to physically accomplish these feats anymore, and the question will arise of what he will do to define the next era of his career.

10 Movies That Defined Tom Cruise's Career

Tom cruise should follow collateral's blueprint after mission: impossible.

The answer regarding a future after Mission: Impossible lies with one of Cruise's most memorable roles as the cold-blooded hitman Vincent in Michael Mann's Collateral . Collateral follows a single night in the life of cab driver Max (Jamie Foxx), who is forced to transport Vincent around L.A. as he crosses off targets on his hit list. The film doesn't just feature excellent action scenes but also a fascinating back-and-forth between the two leads. Many long exchanges of dialogue happen within Max's cab, and the audience sees him and Vincent argue philosophically about the value of human life and their differing ideologies.

Cruise had to train for Collateral since it was an unexpected role, as the actor had never played the main villain of a film before, and to this day hasn't done it again since. The uniqueness of this notion paid off, as Collateral proved to be a healthy hit. It grossed $220 million worldwide from an estimated $65 million budget (via Box Office Mojo ). Cruise's movie star charisma brought layers of charm to Vincent's sociopathic demeanor, and it is still widely considered one of the best performances of Cruise's long and illustrious career. A return to this type of role would be an exciting prospect for the actor.

Every Michael Mann Movie, Ranked Worst To Best

Villain roles can help tom cruise stay relevant.

As Cruise gets older, it'll become more challenging for him to remain at the center of these action franchises. Unlike films like Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny , which heavily relied on CGI to assist 81-year-old Harrison Ford with the action scenes, Cruise's movies use their practical stunt work as a selling point. Top Gun: Maverick had Cruise flying real jets , and Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One had him jumping off a massive cliff on a motorcycle. Too much CGI would cheapen the impact of these stunts, which have become a big part of Cruise's brand.

However, if Cruise takes on more antagonistic parts in movies like Collateral going forward, he could not only avoid putting his body at risk in as many huge stunts but also access an untapped well of potential film roles. Cruise would still be a selling point in whatever franchise he chooses to be a part of, and he'd be able to explore the darkness he displayed as Vincent all those years ago. It'd be an exciting development for fans to witness, full of possibilities, and could prove to be the key to Tom Cruise staying relevant through the 2020s and beyond.

Source: Box Office Mojo

“He invited us to watch the movie”: Tom Cruise’s Arguably Boldest Role in His Life Required Permission from a Fast and Furious Star to Make it Happen

T om Cruise’s status as a bonafide action star means most of his roles require a certain boldness from the actor. However, Cruise’s performance in the 2008 satirical comedy film Tropic Thunder is arguably his boldest role precisely because it goes against his star persona. In the film, Cruise plays the role of a goofy studio executive Les Grossman.

One of the funniest scenes in the film depicts Grossman dancing to a hip tune. However, for Cruise to execute this scene, it required the permission of a Fast & Furious star. Given the popularity of Cruise’s role, particularly his dance routine in the film, viewers must be curious to learn why the action star required the permission of another star, and here is everything you need to know.

Tom Cruise’s Tropic Thunder Role Required Permission From Fast & Furious Star Ludacris

Tom Cruise ’s performance as studio executive Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder is one of the actor’s most understated roles as it goes against his image as an action star. However, Cruise delivers a memorable performance winning over viewers with the idiosyncrasies of a character who is despicable on paper.

One of the best examples of Cruise making the character likable is his dance routine to the tune of the song Get Back by Fast & Furious star Ludacris. However, to use the song in the film’s closing sequence, director Ben Stiller personally sought Ludacris’ permission.

During an appearance on the First We Feast YouTube channel’s Hot Ones show, Ludacris revealed the following:

“Not only did he seek approval, respectfully, he invited us to watch the movie before it came out and it was literally just me, him, and my management and we watched the whole movie.”

“The right man for the right role”: Keanu Reeves Replaces Tom Cruise in The Mummy Fanmade Trailer and It Certainly Looks Promising

Ludacris added that he was moved by Stiller’s gesture to screen the film for him. As a result, it is safe to say that one of the most iconic and hilarious scenes from the film featuring Cruise’s Grossman showing off his dance moves would not have materialized without Ludacris’ blessing.

How Tom Cruise Came Up With His Hilarious Tropic Thunder Role

During a separate interview with Esquire , director Ben Stiller opened up about how the character of Les Grossman came to be. Stiller revealed that Cruise came up with the character himself as he felt the plot needed a studio executive as the primary antagonist. He said:

“Tom Cruise had the idea to play Les Grossman in the movie. That part did not exist. He said, well, there’s no studio executive and that would be really fun to be that guy.”

Stiller also credited Cruise with coming up with the character’s looks and dance moves which are among the character’s most memorable traits. In a separate interview , Cruise himself confirmed that it was his idea to add a studio executive character to the script.

“That was what Katie wanted”: Upsetting Report on Tom Cruise’s Relationship With Daughter Suri Cruise Will Break Your Heart

In 2022, it was revealed that Cruise and frequent collaborator Christopher McQuarrie were reportedly working on a spin-off that would bring back the Les Grossman character. However, since then there have been no updates regarding the project. Cruise is currently busy with the eighth installment in his Mission: Impossible franchise so it will be interesting to see if he revisits one of his boldest roles in the future.

Tropic Thunder is streaming on Peacock.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment

Rebecca Ferguson Says Her Mission: Impossible Character's Death Was 'Collaborative,' Not 'Enough Space' in Franchise

With “a lot of characters” joining the Tom Cruise franchise, Rebecca Ferguson says she had to make a difficult decision to have the “awesome” Ilsa Faust exit

Keith Hamshere/Paramount Pictures/ Everett 

Rebecca Ferguson is clarifying the reasons behind her exit from the Mission: Impossible franchise. 

The actress behind Ilsa Faust called the character’s planned death in 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One “collaborative” in an upcoming interview on WrapWomen’s UnWrapped podcast, per TheWrap . 

“Ilsa was becoming a team player,” said Ferguson, 40, of her butt-kicking assassin first introduced in 2015’s fifth entry in the Tom Cruise -led series, Rogue Nation . “And we all can want different things, but for me… Ilsa was naughty. Ilsa was unpredictable.”

In the franchise’s sixth and seventh entries, there were “a lot of characters coming in, not leaving enough space for what she had been,” she added.

Ilsa’s introduction to the Mission: Impossible world preceded Vanessa Kirby as Alanna Mitsopolis a.k.a. the White Widow, Angela Bassett as CIA Director Erika Sloane, Henry Cavill as CIA assassin August Walker, Pom Klementieff as assassin Paris, Hayley Atwell as thief Grace and Esai Morales as terrorist Gabriel.

It was the latter character who murderously ended Ferguson’s reign as the “rogue” Ilsa, as the Dune star reportedly said on UnWrapped . “To speak very clearly — because I know a lot of people are sad about it, I’m sad about it — I had filmed three films. My [contract] deal was done.” 

Chiabella James/Paramount/Everett

She added that she loves her Mission: Impossible character “beyond words. I think she’s the most awesome, fantastic character.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Other considerations, she said, were the physical and logistical commitments to continuing in a blockbuster action franchise. “Selfishly, that’s a lot of time to make a Mission film. And unless you’re going to have a lot of screen time, that’s a lot of time sitting around waiting to film a huge movie that could take over a year to film.”

Ferguson added, “There’s a moment where you think it needs to be worth it, not just to love the character and to embrace Tom and [writer-director Christopher McQuarrie ] and the story. I want to work, man. I want to work. I don’t want to sit in a trailer… ​​It is so intoxicatingly exciting when you’re rolling, but there’s a lot of waiting.”

Daniele Venturelli/Getty

For a growing franchise — whose eighth film is expected to hit screens on May 23, 2025 — the star noted, “The more characters that are brought in, the more waiting.” After wrapping up Ilsa's story in Dead Reckoning Part One , Ferguson pointed out, she filmed both Dune movies and two seasons of Apple TV+ drama Silo . 

Ferguson also stars in the 2025 sci-fi drama Mercy with Annabelle Wallis and Chris Pratt.

Related Articles

Things you buy through our links may earn  Vox Media  a commission.

Tom Cruise Is a London Boy

Sometimes when God closes a door (Taylor Swift says “So long” ), She opens a window (Tom Cruise does the splits). Cruise is living that life in London, and for him that means break-dancing, doing the splits, and watching the British absolutely lose their crumpets. Cruise has lived in London since 2021 and has, in that time, been at the former queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the British Grand Prix, according to the Mercury News . And now he has attended the most British event of all: Posh Spice’s birthday party. Fortunately, he still has the American propensity to do the most. While at the party, Cruise began break-dancing and ended his routine by doing the splits, according to the Daily Mail . “People were absolutely dumbfounded,” a source mentioned. All we’ll say about that is that if there’s one thing the Mission: Impossible franchise could do to s ecure those Imax screens , it just might be a (gay?) club scene in which Cruise distracts the bad guys by jumping into the splits like a Drag Race contestant. Just an idea.

• victoria beckham
• so long london
• david beckham
• mission: complete

Most Viewed Stories

• A Tennis Dummy’s Guide to the Ending of Challengers
• The 10 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend
• Cinematrix No. 45: April 26, 2024
• Richie Sambora Apologizes to Everyone
• Alien Movies, Ranked
• ‘When I First Saw the Show, I Was Furious’

Editor’s Picks

Most Popular

• Is Zendaya the Leading Lady We’ve Been Looking for?

What is your email?

This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us.

Sign In To Continue Reading

Create your free account.

Password must be at least 8 characters and contain:

• Lower case letters (a-z)
• Upper case letters (A-Z)
• Numbers (0-9)
• Special Characters (!@#$%^&*)

As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York , which you can opt out of anytime.

SZA Will Make Her Feature Acting Debut in Issa Rae's New Movie

The untitled movie will also feature Keke Palmer.

The Big Picture

• SZA will make her acting debut in a buddy comedy movie produced by Issa Rae and starring Keke Palmer.
• The project reunites the team from the canceled series Rap Sh!t and may feature SZA's singing talents.
• Details of the movie, including SZA's character and release date, are currently unknown.

It looks like world-famous singer's SZA acting debut won't be Kill Bill Vol 3 . Today, Deadline revealed that the recording artist will flex her acting muscles for the first time with nine-time Emmy nominee Issa Rae producing. The Insecure creator and star landed a buddy comedy movie at TriStar, and details of it are yet to be revealed, as well as which character SZA is slated to play. The movie is also yet to get a release window.

What we do know at this point is that SZA will be starring alongside none other than Keke Palmer ( Nope ) . The duo shared a scene on a Saturday Night Live sketch during an episode in which Palmer hosted and SZA served as musical guest. Apparently, SZA got bit by the acting bug, because she then decided to look for a project to star in. According to Deadline , the singer felt that the project — and the chance to work with Palmer again — was too good to pass up.

The SZA-Palmer sketch dates back to late 2022 . The duo starred in an SNL digital short with the song "Big Boys." The music video joked about "cuffing season," a time of the year when people jump into relationships because it starts to get cold outside and no one wants to go on dates. The sketch featured Punkie Johnson , Ego Nwodim , Cecily Strong and Kenan Thompson , and also poked fun at the new and "improved" Chris Pratt ( Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy ).

The 'Rap Sh!t' Legacy Lives On With Issa Rae

For the new buddy comedy project, Issa Rae recruited a team she knows very well. Short-lived comedy series Rap Sh!t might have been canceled last year, but a reunion is going to happen with the new comedy. The former series' showrunner Syreeta Singleton is slated to write the screenplay for the buddy comedy while series director Lawrence Lamont will helm it. It's also likely that Rap Sh!t stars will get recruited for the cast.

It's also safe to assume that SZA will lend her singing talents to whichever character she plays, or contribute to the project's soundtrack. Back in 2022, the singer made a pretty bold statement of being a Quentin Tarantino fan with her music: Her hit song "Kill Bill" not only references one of the filmmaker's most famous movies, but the music video contains numerous references to the revenge duology starring Uma Thurman as well.

Details of the Issa Rae, SZA and Keke Palmer buddy comedy are yet to be announced. Stick with Collider to find out new information as soon as it is announced.