Tom Cruise’s space movie collapsed after he refused to beg Trump for permission, report says

Tom Cruise, frequently criticized for his personal life, remains Hollywood’s final true action hero. His determination on performing his own stunts like jumping a real motorcycle off a cliff rather than faking it on green screen is iconic. Yet even Cruise wasn’t prepared to do what it would require to make a film in space, according to Page Six: he refused to beg Trump for a favor.

The Space Movie

In 2020, Cruise and director Doug Liman revealed plans for a movie to be filmed in outer space with the support of SpaceX and NASA. Five years later, the project still hasn’t materialized. According to “an insider familiar with the filmmakers,” “they would need NASA coordination to do the movie, and supposedly Tom Cruise did not want to ask Donald Trump for a favor. You'd need permission from the federal government.” The source also described, “Tom didn't want to ask for political reasons.” Page Six cited: “Cruise has stayed largely apolitical over the years, and the source said he did not want to alienate fans by starting now.”

Other Obstacles in Production

Cruise’s reluctance wasn’t the only obstacle. Reports indicate that Liman may have failed a mandatory physical required to determine if he was fit for space travel. Obtaining insurance for a film shot in orbit also reportedly proved challenging, possibly derailing the project even if political approval had been received.

NASA’s Early Support

In 2020, excitement was high when then–Trump-appointed NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted: “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.” Being able to shoot on the International Space Station would have been historic. However, Bridenstine has since removed the tweet, and Page Six reports that “space insiders tell Page Six there have never been any further discussions inside the space agency about the film.”

Sadly, the Tom Cruise space film isn’t happening. While the expenses of shooting in orbit alone may have made the project unfeasible, fans can still hope. If anyone could have turned a space-set film into a commercial success, it would likely have been Cruise. On the bright side, viewers can still look forward to a “Days of Thunder” sequel, providing some consolation.

FAQs:

1. What was Tom Cruise’s space movie?
It was a proposed movie that would have been shot in outer space. Cruise and director Doug Liman revealed it in 2020.

2. Why didn’t the space movie happen?
Insiders stated that Cruise didn’t want to ask Donald Trump for a favor. Political considerations and NASA coordination were cited as major obstacles.