Space race 2: Russian actor bound for ISS in same month as Tom Cruise
Hollywood star is aiming to be first to shoot a feature film in space, but Russia has launched rival bid
www.theguardian.com
Russia is to send an actor and director to the International Space Station in October, with the ambition of making the first feature film in space.
The crew are scheduled to begin their expedition on 5 October 2021. While on the space station they could encounter some fellow film-makers: Tom Cruise and the director Doug Liman, who are also due to travel there in October to make a movie.
The exact date of Cruise’s blastoff has not yet been revealed, but the departure of the Russians in the first few days of the month suggests an intention to beat the Americans.
Russia was first reported to be mounting a rival production last year, shortly after plans were confirmed last summer for Cruise, who will be 59 at the time of his mission, to go into low Earth orbit, backed by Nasa and Elon Musk.
Who will be the Russian actress? Yulia Peresild. We don't know much about her but we do know about her diving ability and "chest girth"...
Potential candidates for the female lead in the film needed to be between 25 and 40 years old and a Russian citizen, to weigh between 50kg and 70kg and have a “chest girth” of up to 112cm.
“Additionally, she must be able to run 1km in three and a half minutes or less, swim 800 metres freestyle in 20 minutes, and dive from a 3-metre springboard with an impressive technique.” Previous acting experience was not required.
Elon get them there in September. Screw those Ruskies!