Fly Me to the Moon: Is It Based on a True Story & Real Events?

Fans of Fly Me to the Moon are eager to discover if the recent release is based on a true story. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, the romantic comedy follows a NASA Director and a PR specialist brought together for the Apollo 11 launch. As they navigate their roles in managing NASA’s reputation and orchestrating a staged moon landing, romantic feelings develop amidst the mission.

Let’s delve deep into whether Fly Me to the Moon is grounded in reality and examine the authenticity of Scarlett Johansson’s and Channing Tatum’s characters in the film.

Is Fly Me to the Moon a true story or fiction?

Fly Me to the Moon is a fictional story, but it takes inspiration from an original conspiracy theory around NASA’s historic Apollo 11 mission.

In reality, Apollo 11 was a groundbreaking mission that sent American astronauts to the surface of the moon, achieving tremendous success in 1969. However, it sparked a viral conspiracy theory alleging that NASA staged the mission. Nevertheless, the agency debunked these theories.

Fly Me To The Moon places this viral conspiracy theory at the forefront while maintaining a lighthearted and concise narrative. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director Greg Berlanti discussed how he incorporated the original conspiracy theory into the film. He acknowledged the importance of ultimately revealing the truth by the movie’s conclusion.

Berlanti stated, “When you see the movie, without giving away the ending, you realize that so much of it is about why the truth is important. And so I think I was fine to take on an OG conspiracy theory, knowing that in the end, what we were really trying to say why the truth matters.”

Are Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum’s characters real?

No, Johannson and Tatum’s characters aren’t real.

However, NASA did hire PR specialists like Johannson’s character to boost the visibility of Apollo 11 among Americans. They aimed to garner public support for the mission during the Cold War era. While her character in Fly Me to the Moon is fictional, it draws inspiration from real-life events.

Berlanti believed Johannson and Tatum were perfectly cast, noting their charm and humor. He emphasized that their pairing contrasts with the film’s essence. “Their innate goodness, their innate comedy, drama, charm, it makes you want to watch them and want to watch the story,” he said.