With mega-stars Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson at the lead, Fly Me to the Moon is one of the most anticipated films of 2024. The movie will land in theaters on June 12, 2024. The plot focuses on a marketing specialist who is hired by NASA to help get the American public on board with the magnificent yet highly ambitious mission to land a man on the moon.
Although there is a great deal of buzz around the movie, there has also been some controversy as well. This is because the movie depicts the filming of a fake version of the moon landing, just incase things went wrong. So, let’s explore the movie’s plot and just how true to life it is as we delve into each actor’s character. With that said, here’s the cast of Fly Me to the Moon.
Scarlett Johansson as Kelly Jones
Two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson leads the cast of Fly Me to the Moon as Kelly Jones, a marketing wiz who is enlisted by NASA. While the movie is loosely based on real events, Kelly Jones is a fictitious character. It has long been believed that NASA recorded backup moon landings incase things went awry, however, this has been debunked time and time again, and NASA has denied all allegations. Yet, this is where the movie draws inspiration from. While this never happened, Fly Me to the Moon treats it as if it did. However, in actual fact, it was television networks like CBS and NBC that made these fake moon landing videos, according to space.com. At the heart of the movie, actually lies a romantic story between Kelly Jones and Channing Tatum’s character, Cole Davis.
Channing Tatum as Cole Davis
Channing Tatum first broke out as a heartthrob in Hollywood with 2012 being a major year for him. That year, he starred in Magic Mike, a tale about a struggling stripper, and The Vow, a romcom that landed big with audiences. However, he soon set out to ensure he was not typecast as a guy who only does romance movies. To that, he starred in comedies like 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, and This Is the End. He has also showcased his skills in more dramatic roles in films like Foxcatcher, and Side Effects. After proving his versatility, he will return to romance in Fly Me to the Moon, starring as Cole Davis, a NASA employee who believes the fake filming is completely undermining the mission. To that, he clashes with Kelly, before starting to fall for her charm.
Ray Romano as Henry Smalls
Ray Romano has come a long way from his early days as the lead star of Everybody Loves Raymond. Since departing the show, he has ventured into movies. During his time on the silver screen, he has worked with directors like Martin Scorsese (The Irishman), Michael Showalter (The Big Sick), and Cory Finley (Bad Education). In Fly Me to the Moon, the three-time Primetime Emmy winner stars as Henry Smalls, another fictitious character. Despite the character being made up, Romano told Screen Rant that he was drawn to the movie as there were real-life NASA bodies consulting on the movie. The film’s director Greg Berlanti agreed, saying: “I’m not sure I would’ve done it if they weren’t a proponent of it,”
Woody Harrelson as Moe Berkus
Hollywood heavyweight Woody Harrelson may be regarded as one of the best leading actors of all time, but he also doesn’t shy away from supporting roles. However, these roles are typically eccentric and scene stealing, giving him the chance to leave his mark even with little screen time. Judging by the trailer for Fly Me to the Moon, Harrelson’s role in this movie will be no different. He stars as Moe Berkus, a NASA top-dog who serves as the movie’s villain of sorts, a bureaucratic suit who throws his weight and money around during the process of filming the fake landing.
Jim Rash as Lance Vespertine
Jim Rash is an American actor, director, and screenwriter, best known for his comedic roles in television and film. Born on July 15, 1971, in Charlotte, North Carolina, Rash gained recognition for his portrayal of Dean Pelton on the popular NBC sitcom Community, a role that earned him several award nominations. He has also appeared in numerous films, including The Way Way Back, Captain America: Civil War and The Descendants, where he shared a Academy Award win for Best Original Screenplay with Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon. In Fly Me to the Moon, Rash takes on the role of Lance Vespertine, a diva-like filmmaker in charge of shooting the fake landing. Want to read more about Fly Me to the Moon? Here’s our breakdown of the trailer.
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