Even after more than 50 years, Hollywood thinks that the moon landing was all a big hoax. And guess what? That’s exactly the wacky premise of the Greg Berlanti-directed new film Fly Me to the Moon.

The film isn’t just an average romantic comedy. Scarlett Johansson stars as Kelly Jones, a savvy marketing genius whose mission is to rescue NASA’s reputation during the Apollo era (the period in the 1960s and early 1970s dominated by NASA’s Apollo program).

And none other than Channing Tatum takes on the role of Cole Davis, the launch director of the moon mission, who is also her partner in crime in this space-romantic saga.

 
Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in a still from Fly Me to the Moon
But here’s the twist: Instead of the usual romantic gestures and cute coffee shop meet-ups, they’re bonding over something totally unexpected.

Their shocking plan is to fake the moon landing! The trailer for the film also includes a visual reference to the Stanley Kubrick moon landing conspiracy theory.

Upcoming Film by A-Listers Validates Stanley Kubrick Moon Landing Theory

Stanley Kubrick directing 2001: A Space Odyssey
In the trailer for Fly Me to the Moon, released yesterday by Sony Pictures Entertainment on YouTube, we saw a sneaky joke about Stanley Kubrick — referencing the conspiracy theory that the director secretly faked the moon landing for the government in 1969.

The Kubrick moon landing conspiracy theory is a popular but debunked belief. Proponents of this theory claim that his 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey shows his ability to create realistic space scenes and that he was approached by the U.S. government to help stage the moon landing footage.

However, there is no credible evidence to support this. Even experts in movies, photography, and space exploration believe there’s no real proof to back this claim.

The plot of the movie revolves around faking the moon landing on a soundstage. This is a clear parallel to the conspiracy theory that alleges the real moon landing footage was staged on a set. By presenting this concept in a comedic manner, the film mocks the seriousness of the conspiracy theory.

Here’s More About Fly Me to the Moon 

A still from Fly Me to the Moon (2024)
Originally titled ‘Project Artemis,’ Fly Me to the Moon shared its name with a real NASA initiative (a mission currently underway). However, the title was changed to fit more with its romantic comedy genre.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that the project began in 2022 when Apple acquired the rights for a reported $100 million. Initially, Jason Bateman was set to direct, with Chris Evans and Scarlett Johannsson starring. However, Bateman and Evans left the project, and they were replaced by director Greg Berlanti and actor Channing Tatum.

The cast of the film also features Jim Rash, Ray Romano, Anna Garcia, Donald Elise Watkins, Noah Robbins, Colin Woodell, Nick Dillenburg, Christian Zuber, and Woody Harrelson. The script is penned by Rose Gilroy, who is the daughter of screenwriter and director Dan Gilroy.