Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Neil Armstrong Bio-Pic

Sci-fi as a genre might be dead as an American film genre, but is there a place for a sci-non-fi film about the life of Niel Armstrong.

Universal Studios (which seems like an appropriate choice...I can see the big globe now, zooming out into space in the opening credits) has picked up rights to the biography of Neil Armstrong by James R. Hansen called First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong. (The screenplay apparently is being written by Nicole Perlman, who's former credits seem "spacey").

Obviously the success of a film like this lies in casting, promotion, and timing...and maybe while interest in "the space race" seems to have deminished, if pushed and done in the right ways, who knows...it could be a great film. It certainly is a part of Americana that hasn't had it's own dedicated film, although I instantly picture the archive footage of the moon walk from the movies Forrest Gump and Apollo 13.

I'll be really curious to see who they cast. Just as long as it's not Emile Hirsch of Shia Labeouf. They're everywhere!

8 comments:

Ando said...

"It certainly is a part of Americana that hasn't had it's own dedicated film."

Not quite right. Check out The Right Stuff. It fits this category and is an 80's movie! The book is also excellent.

Anonymous said...

ando, I don't think you're correct. The Right Stuff covers events that occurred before the moon landing.

RC, maybe it feels like Shia and Emile are everywhere, but I don't think they're appearing in any more films than most working actors.

Ando said...

Jeremy, that's true. I was thinking more of the space program in general.

There was that From the Earth to the Moon series that came out a few years ago, I think on HBO. I never saw it, but heard it was good.

kat said...

This is great news. I love reading about the space program and the moon landings in particular.

The Right Stuff is an amazing movie and book (I would encourage everyone to both see it and read it) but it doesn't really cover the Armstrong years and the astronauts of the Apollo program.

From the Earth to the Moon is more comprehensive in that way.

Neil Armstrong has always been something of a public recluse and a mystery, though. He keeps to himself and doesn't often publicly comment on the moon landings, etc. I'm very anxious to see this and hope it's done right.

I vote for Peter Skaarsgard as Armstrong. Or Ryan Gosling.

Terence Towles Canote said...

Having grown up in the era, I would definitely be interested in a Neil Armstrong biopic.

Anonymous said...

I'm feeling Ed Harris or Matthew McConaughey (with a shaved head) as Neil Armstrong...or maybe Ryan Phillippe...

Notas Sobre Creación Cultural e Imaginarios Sociales said...

Reminded me what a great film "In the Shadow of the Moon" was.
For the biopic they'll probably cast Tobey Maguire or Cate Blanchett.

aerospace hardware said...

Neil Armstrong has got to be standing on one of the most prestigious pedestals in human history. I admire him.