Space exploration is no longer the stuff of dreams, it’s a reality. As the race to commercialize space tourism accelerates, we’re on the brink of a new era in filmmaking: movies shot in space. The first film to be shot in space, The Challenge, made history in 2021 by taking its crew to the International Space Station. But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Hollywood is following suit with an upcoming space project starring Tom Cruise and directed by Doug Liman, designed to take the leap into orbital filmmaking. So, how far are we from seeing space-filmed blockbusters become a regular occurrence?
The Billionaire Space Race
The key to making space-based films a reality lies in the burgeoning space tourism industry. The names that immediately come to mind are Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Richard Branson. These three billionaires have made it their mission to conquer space, with their companies, Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic, leading the charge in what is now known as the “billionaire space race.” With a combined net worth of around $400 billion, these industry giants have already made significant strides in space travel.
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SpaceX has revolutionized space technology with reusable rockets, making space travel more cost-effective and sustainable.
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Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have both already reached orbit, giving their respective founders astronaut status.
While the cost of space travel remains high, targeted at the ultra-rich for now, these ventures are laying the groundwork for more affordable space travel in the future. Richard Branson even promised that the cost of tickets would eventually drop, making space travel accessible to children today who dream of becoming astronauts.
Space Tourism is Here to Stay
In addition to the big names, other companies are joining the race. Space Adventures arranged for a Japanese billionaire to visit the ISS in 2021, marking a milestone in private space travel. And despite political tensions, collaboration between countries, like the US and Russia, has helped make space tourism possible. As Tom Shelley of Space Adventures puts it, the public is becoming increasingly aware that space tourism isn’t just a futuristic concept, it’s happening now.
The Future of Filming in Space
But it’s not just about tourism. Companies like Space Entertainment Enterprise are already exploring the possibility of building space stations that could host zero-gravity entertainment events, including movies, music concerts, and even sports. While this might sound like science fiction, the idea of a space-based film studio or a Quidditch match in zero gravity is becoming more realistic by the day.
As space travel becomes more routine and affordable, filmmakers could start to see space as a viable shooting location. While it might be years before space-based shoots become a regular occurrence, Richard Branson’s optimism about lowering ticket prices suggests that this will eventually become a common practice. It’s likely that within a few decades, we’ll see space films shot in orbit, thrilling audiences with scenes set beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Closing Statement
Space is no longer the final frontier, it’s the next frontier for filmmakers. While the costs remain high, the rapidly advancing space tourism industry is poised to make orbital filmmaking a reality in the near future. For now, we can only imagine the breathtaking shots that await us. But if the current trajectory holds, the day when we watch a film actually shot in space may be closer than we think.
