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Russian filmmakers make history with release of trailer for first movie shot in space
Russian filmmakers have achieved a major milestone with the release of the first trailer for “The Challenge,” the first movie to be shot in space. The trailer, released by Central Partnership, the film’s distributor, offers a glimpse of the action to come, including a heart-stopping scene in which a cosmonaut is thrown across the panels of the International Space Station (ISS) as booster rockets ignite.
The film follows the story of Evgenia Belyaeva, a heart surgeon played by Yulia Peresild, who is sent to the ISS via Soyuz spacecraft to perform surgery on a team member in zero-G. Director Klim Shipenko faced a number of challenges in the production process, including the need to constantly adjust lighting to account for the 45-minute sunrise and sunset cycle on the ISS.
Co-star Anton Shkaplerov, who also serves as a cosmonaut, spoke to The Russian News Agency TASS about the film, saying that Shipenko “constantly had to turn on certain lamps, direct them in a certain direction” in order to maintain a consistent lighting environment.
According to Shipenko, the script for the film underwent changes as they worked to adapt to the unique circumstances of filming in space. Cosmonauts on the ISS even contributed to the dialogue, offering their own insights and experiences.
Yulia Peresild praised the cosmonauts who worked alongside the film crew, saying, “Thanks to [cosmonauts] Anton Shkaplerov, Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov for joining us at some point despite having a huge number of tasks themselves; they kept working with us at nights, continued to film our movie.”
“The Challenge” is not the only film to be shot in space in recent years. In 2021, Mission Impossible actor Tom Cruise announced plans to film a movie in outer space with director Doug Liman. According to Universal Pictures Chairwoman Donna Langley, the yet-to-be-titled film will star Cruise as “a down-on-his-luck guy who finds himself in the position of being the only person who could save Earth,” leading to a dramatic spacewalk outside the ISS. The film is being financed by Universal and will be produced in partnership with NASA and Space-X founder Elon Musk. No release date has been announced.
Anton Shkaplerov
In addition to his work on the film, Shkaplerov has also flown on three missions to the International Space Station and has logged over 642 days in space. He is known for his contributions to the film and his insights into the unique experience of living and working in space.
Yulia Peresild is a Russian actress known for her work in film and television. She has appeared in a number of Russian-language productions, including both movies and TV shows. In addition to her acting career, Peresild is also active in charitable causes and has been involved in a number of philanthropic projects. She is known for her dedication to her craft and her commitment to using her platform to make a positive impact in the world.
Klim Shipenko is a Russian filmmaker known for his work in both film and television. He has directed a number of popular movies and TV series in Russia, and his work has been recognized with several awards and accolades. Shipenko is known for his attention to detail and his ability to bring complex stories to life on screen. In addition to his work as a director, Shipenko is also a skilled writer and has contributed to the scripts for many of his projects.
