Tom Cruise's NASA Space Movie Gets Canceled Over Political Concerns
The Mission: Impossible star's groundbreaking project to film aboard the International Space Station has been shelved due to his unwillingness to seek federal approval through political channels.
The ambitious space-bound film project starring Tom Cruise has officially hit a roadblock that proved insurmountable. The groundbreaking venture, which would have marked the first narrative feature filmed in orbit, has been canceled according to industry insiders.
The project's demise stems from Cruise's unwillingness to navigate the political landscape required for federal approval. Sources indicate that securing NASA's cooperation would have necessitated presidential authorization, something the actor chose to avoid.
Political Hurdles Prove Too High
"From what I understand, they would need NASA coordination to do the movie, and supposedly Tom Cruise did not want to ask Donald Trump for a favor," an insider revealed. "You'd need permission from the federal government. Tom didn't want to ask for political reasons."
The collaboration with Edge of Tomorrow filmmaker Doug Liman was initially announced in 2020, generating significant buzz throughout Hollywood. NASA officials had confirmed plans for Cruise to conduct filming aboard the International Space Station, marking an unprecedented achievement in cinema history.
From Ambitious Vision to Abandoned Dream
Universal Pictures executive Donna Langley had expressed enthusiasm for the project in 2022, stating that "Tom Cruise is taking us to space. He's taking the world to space." She described the venture as involving Cruise "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 storyline would have featured Cruise as "a down-on-his-luck guy who finds himself in the position of being the only person who could save Earth." The concept promised to blend Cruise's signature action sequences with the authentic backdrop of space.
What's Next for the Action Star
Despite this setback, Cruise's schedule remains packed with upcoming projects. His next venture involves working with The Revenant director Alejandro G. Iñárritu on an untitled film featuring an impressive ensemble cast including Jesse Plemons, Emma D'Arcy, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, Sophie Wilde, and Michael Stuhlbarg.
This new collaboration with Iñárritu is scheduled to reach theaters on October 2, 2026, offering fans something to anticipate despite the disappointment surrounding the canceled space epic.