Tom Cruise’s Ambitious Space Film Grounded Amid NASA Hurdles
Tom Cruise’s much-anticipated space project with Doug Liman has reportedly been shelved, with political complications and NASA requirements cited as key obstacles.
Tom Cruise’s long-rumoured venture into outer space appears to have come to an abrupt halt. The actor, who had been collaborating with Doug Liman—best known for Edge of Tomorrow—was set to break new ground by filming a narrative feature beyond Earth’s atmosphere. However, the project has now reportedly been abandoned, with Cruise’s hesitance to navigate the necessary political channels cited as a decisive factor.
According to reports, the production stalled when it became clear that official approval from NASA would be essential. An insider explained,
‘From what I understand, they would need NASA coordination to do the film, and supposedly Tom Cruise did not want to ask Donald Trump for a favour,’
adding,
‘You’d need permission from the federal government. Tom didn’t want to ask for political reasons.’
This reluctance to seek presidential intervention appears to have left the project without a viable path forward.
Plans for a Cinematic First
Back in 2020, Cruise’s ambitions were made public when it was announced he would attempt to shoot the first scripted film in space. A NASA administrator confirmed at the time that the production would take place aboard the International Space Station, raising expectations for a truly unprecedented cinematic event.
Updates on the project were sporadic, but in 2022, Universal Pictures’ Donna Langley reignited interest by stating,
‘Tom Cruise is taking us to space. He’s taking the world to space.’
She elaborated,
‘We have a great project in development with Tom, that does contemplate him doing just that. Taking a rocket up to the space station and shooting and hopefully being the first civilian to do a spacewalk outside of the space station.’
The film, which remained untitled, was set to feature Cruise as a down-on-his-luck character unexpectedly tasked with saving the planet.
Unrealised Ambitions and What’s Next
Despite the excitement, the prospect of seeing Cruise perform a spacewalk now seems out of reach. The project’s cancellation has left fans and industry observers alike rather disappointed, as the film promised to push the boundaries of what’s possible in cinema.
Looking ahead, Cruise is set to star in a new, as-yet-untitled film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, known for The Revenant. Details remain under wraps, but the cast is already shaping up to be impressive, with Jesse Plemons, Emma D’Arcy, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, Sophie Wilde, and Michael Stuhlbarg all on board. The film is scheduled for release on 2 October 2026.