Khaberni - The cinematic film project that was scheduled to be filmed by global star Tom Cruise in outer space has stalled, years after it was announced, amid reports pointing to political and production reasons that prevented its release.
According to Page Six, Tom Cruise refused to submit an official request to U.S. President Donald Trump for the necessary government approvals to shoot the film, which was a fundamental condition for coordinating the work with NASA.
The site quoted a source familiar with the project's behind-the-scenes saying, "The execution of the film required direct coordination with NASA, and obtaining permission from the federal government; however, Tom Cruise did not want to ask for this permission for political reasons."
The source added that Cruise, known for staying out of public political engagements, feared that doing so would alienate a segment of his audience, preferring to maintain his image as an artist not involved in political controversy.
Cruise had announced in 2020, in collaboration with director Doug Liman, plans to produce a film filmed in outer space, supported by SpaceX and NASA, in a move described at the time as unprecedented in cinema history.
Despite the great enthusiasm that accompanied the announcement, the project has not seen any tangible progress in the past five years.
In addition to political reservations, the project faced additional challenges, including reports that director Doug Liman had not passed the mandatory medical examination determining the readiness of participants to travel to space.
The difficulties of insuring a film shot in Earth orbit also posed a significant barrier, making the completion of the project complicated even with official approvals.
Then NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, appointed by Trump, expressed his enthusiasm for the project in 2020, writing on the X platform: "NASA is excited to work with Tom Cruise on a film to be filmed aboard the International Space Station.. We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists."
However, this post was later deleted, and informed sources confirmed to Page Six that no official discussions had been held within the agency about the film afterward.
Despite the disappointment of the American star's fans, the audience still looks forward to his upcoming works, including a project to produce a second part of his famous movie "Days of Thunder," which may partly compensate for the cinematic dream that was not completed.
