The Russians are preparing to shoot a film on board the ISS and it will be a big first. The first details regarding the story of this film have recently been shared. There will be talk of a rescue operation.
The Roscosmos space agency announced the news last May. A film crew will be sent to the International Space Station on October 5 aboard the Soyuz spacecraft to shoot a film called "The Challenge “, in collaboration with the first Russian television channel. Until now, we didn't know anything about the plot of this film. Now we know a little more.
Producer Konstantin Ernst of the First Channel television channel and director Klim Shipenko have indeed shared new details about the script and the logistical production of this unprecedented adventure during a fund presentation to the Russian Federal Fund for Social and Economic Support of National Cinematography.
According to Shipenko, who will film aboard the ISS, the plot will involve a cosmonaut undergoing cardiac arrest during a spacewalk. The latter will be fine, but will need surgery to ensure his return to Earth. A surgeon, named Zhenya, will then be rushed to the ISS to perform the procedure.
Shipenko explained that he plans to film 35-40 minutes of screen time aboard the ISS for a twelve-day stay. He will also combine many roles:that of director, cameraman and make-up artist.
The role of Zhenya will normally be played by Yulia Peresild. According to SpaceNews, she is currently training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. If all goes as planned, the actress will fly with Klim Shipenko and professional cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov on Soyuz MS-19. It is not yet known whether Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov, who will be aboard the ISS at the time of filming, will be involved. The post-production schedule indicates a release at the earliest end of 2022 .
Russians will clash with American ambitions. Actor Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman are also expected to join the International Space Station in October aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to shoot several scenes for a film whose plot has not been revealed. Their mission should last about ten days.
