Using wires to float Like on ‘Spaceman’ set ‘hurt me’: Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler encountered a unique challenge while filming his upcoming Netflix project, "Spaceman" — navigating the use of wires to simulate floating in space. Speaking at the Berlin Film Festival press conference for the film on Wednesday, Sandler humorously recounted the experience, joking that the wires were a bit painful.

"The wires were tough because, you know, my body's not exactly the most limber. They dug into me, they hurt," Sandler quipped, prompting laughter from the audience. "I'd tell the stuntmen who were wiring me up, 'Hey, that hurts!' but they didn't always believe me. Still, we worked through it as a team. Johan [Renck] would say, 'You're not looking like you're floating,' and then he'd get wired up and show me how it's done!"

In "Spaceman," Sandler portrays a solitary astronaut grappling with marital issues, finding solace in the company of a CGI alien arachnid voiced by Paul Dano. Director Johan Renck, along with co-stars Carey Mulligan and Paul Dano, also joined the press conference.


Reflecting on his collaboration with Dano, Sandler remarked, "We really delved into it together. I felt his pain, and he helped me through mine." Despite the preparation, filming often involved conversing with props or stand-ins. "On set, I'd be talking to a tennis ball or Johan's friend who'd dressed up and was crawling around. It's a film about isolation, and those moments allowed me to immerse myself in that feeling."

Directed by Renck, known for his work on "Chernobyl," "Spaceman" adapts Czech author Jaroslav Kalfar's novel "Spaceman of Bohemia." The film is slated for a theatrical release on February 23, followed by its Netflix debut on March 1.

In addition to Sandler, Mulligan, and Dano, the ensemble cast includes Kunal Nayyar, Lena Olin, and Isabella Rossellini. The screenplay was penned by Colby Day, with production led by Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, and others.

"Spaceman" made its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Wednesday night, offering audiences a glimpse into Sandler's gravity-defying escapades and the cosmic journey ahead.