‘Fly Me To The Moon’: Is it based on a true story? “Fly Me To The Moon,” the upcoming romantic comedy starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, takes a playful twist on historical events surrounding the Apollo 11 moon landing. But is it based on a true story? Let’s explore the facts.
The Lunar Hoax Theories
Between 5-11% of Americans still harbor doubts about the authenticity of the moon landing, fueled by conspiracy theories that claim the Apollo 11 mission was a hoax. These theories point to minor inconsistencies in moon landing footage and photographs, such as the apparent lack of stars in the lunar sky. However, the foundational truth remains: the United States was fiercely competing with the Soviet Union in the Space Race, and winning was paramount.
The Film’s Premise: In Fly Me To The Moon, marketing mogul Kelly Jones (played by Scarlett Johansson) is recruited by NASA to sell the lunar mission to the American public. But here’s the twist: in case the moon landing fails, Jones is tasked with creating a backup—a staged fake moon landing video. This backup plan raises eyebrows, especially for NASA employee Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), who believes it undermines the entire mission.
The Inspiration Behind the Story
Director Greg Berlanti explains that the film’s inspiration lies in the enduring fascination with the Apollo 11 moon landing. Even today, it remains the most-watched live TV event in history and a hotbed for conspiracy theories. Berlanti wanted to craft a big, fun, and smart movie around the question: Could the American government have possibly faked the moon landing?
Fact vs. Fiction
While Fly Me To The Moon draws on historical events, it takes creative liberties. There is no official evidence that NASA ever staged a fake moon landing. The arguments supporting the moon hoax theory are elaborate but lack concrete proof. NASA categorically denies any such deception.
Characters: Real or Imagined?
‘Fly Me To The Moon’: Is it based on a true story? Johansson’s character, Kelly Jones, is a marketing maven tasked with selling the Apollo 11 mission. Although fictitious, she likely represents the PR specialists hired by NASA during the lunar missions. On the other hand, Tatum’s character, Cole Davies, serves as NASA’s launch director for Apollo 11. While also fictional, he draws inspiration from Eugene Kranz, a key figure in NASA’s mission control during that era.