A marketing specialist, a launch director, and the secret plan to fake Apollo 11.
In short: Set during the Space Race, Fly Me to the Moon reimagines the Apollo 11 mission through a high-stakes romantic comedy lens. When a government operative tasks a marketing expert with staging a backup moon landing, she finds herself caught between a deceptive assignment and a growing attraction to NASA's launch director.
Directed by Greg Berlanti and released in 2024, Fly Me to the Moon explores a fictionalized version of the Apollo 11 mission. The plot centers on Kelly Jones, a marketing specialist played by Scarlett Johansson, who is recruited by a covert operative to improve NASA’s public image. Her mission takes a dark turn when she is ordered to produce a fake moon landing—a project codenamed Artemis—to be broadcast if the actual lunar mission fails. She clashes with Cole Davis, the principled NASA launch director portrayed by Channing Tatum, whose commitment to the real mission eventually forces a confrontation with the deception.
The film’s development was marked by significant changes. Originally titled Project Artemis, the production was acquired by Apple Studios in March 2022 for over $100 million. Early plans involved Jason Bateman as director, but he departed due to creative differences and was replaced by Berlanti. The casting also shifted; Chris Evans was initially attached to star alongside Johansson but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, leading to the casting of Channing Tatum. Screenwriter Rose Gilroy drew inspiration from the book Marketing the Moon, which details how the Apollo 11 mission was sold to the American public through various media.
Upon its theatrical release on July 12, 2024, the film received mixed to positive reviews. Critics praised the chemistry between Johansson and Tatum, though some, such as Richard Brody and Peter Bradshaw, criticized the plot as convoluted or unfunny. Despite a production budget of $100 million, the film grossed $42.2 million worldwide. Originally intended for a direct-to-streaming release on Apple TV+, the film was moved to theaters following strong test screenings, eventually arriving on the streaming platform in December 2024.
The narrative concludes with the success of the real Apollo 11 mission, as a stray cat on the set of the fake landing inadvertently confirms that the live broadcast is genuine. Kelly, who had been living under a false identity, reveals her real name, Winnie, to Cole, allowing them to move forward together. The film serves as a blend of historical context and romantic fiction, playing on enduring cultural fascination with moon landing conspiracy theories.
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