‘Fly Me to the Moon’ Director Greg Berlanti on Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson’s ‘Prompt’ Chemistry and Touchdown an Surprising Theatrical Launch

Director Greg Berlanti didn’t intend for his new romantic comedy “Fly Me to the Moon” to have a theatrical launch.

“It was initially direct to streaming,” Berlanti says, talking Thursday at a family and friends screening of the film at San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood. “However then we handed within the reduce and we began testing it. We examined it in Denver and it went very properly. We examined it in California and we examined it in Texas. Each time, it was very a lot a powerful response from the main target group and testing that this was a theatrical film.”

The movie was produced by Apple Authentic Movies and shall be distributed by Columbia Photos/Sony Photos.

A reimagining of the historical past of man’s first journey to the moon, the film stars Channing Tatum as Cole Davis, a former army pilot accountable for Apollo 11’s launch. Scarlett Johansson co-stars as Kelly Jones, a New York promoting govt who’s employed by the White Home to market the house program to politicians and the American public.

“The opposite factor that the testing viewers additionally stored mentioning was eager to see an unique film. They have been so grateful for an unique,” Berlanti says. “Regardless that it’s clearly historic fiction, it’s an unique story wrapped round that. They didn’t know what was going to occur in a approach within the film and that was so recent for them.”

Johansson was creating the film with author Rose Gilroy when she requested Berlanti to direct after their plans to remake “Little Store of Horrors” fell aside. “They despatched me the script and I used to be house sick with COVID,” Berlanti recollects. “I learn the script and stated, ‘Possibly it’s the COVID, however I actually prefer it.’ So I learn it once more.”

Johansson and Tatum didn’t have a chemistry learn earlier than the “21 Leap Avenue” actor signed on. “They each can have chemistry with a wall, however you don’t know till you could have them collectively,” Berlanti says. “Nevertheless, I knew from the second the readthrough was taking place it was on the spot and I knew I simply wanted to and wished to maintain watching them. They’ve that factor.”

Rounding out the forged are Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano, Jim Hash and Anna Garcia.

The movie shot in Georgia, in addition to the NASA campus in Florida for about six days.

A black cat can be featured within the movie, changing into an vital element by the tip. Three cats have been used for the function. “I’m allergic to cats,” Berlanti says. “Once I learn the script, I used to be like, ‘What am I going to do?’ So I simply stayed away from them till I needed to direct them and I wore a masks anyway as a result of it was COVID. After we began out I believed, ‘Oh, that is going to be the toughest half about making the film.’ However of all of the animals I’ve ever labored with, these cats have been the neatest and the best to take care of.”

“Fly Me to the Moon” premieres in theaters on July 12.

See images from the particular screening under.