Russia is poised to achieve a milestone by producing the first feature film shot entirely aboard the International Space Station (ISS). New details on the plot of The Challenge center on a dramatic orbital rescue.
Roscosmos revealed the project last May. A dedicated film crew will launch to the ISS on October 5 aboard a Soyuz spacecraft, partnering with Russia's First Channel. Plot specifics were under wraps until now.
Producer Konstantin Ernst from First Channel and director Klim Shipenko shared key insights on the storyline and production logistics during a presentation to the Russian Federal Fund for Social and Economic Support of National Cinematography.
Shipenko, directing from the ISS, outlines a tense scenario: a cosmonaut suffers cardiac arrest during a spacewalk. He stabilizes but requires surgery for a safe Earth return. Surgeon Zhenya races to the station to perform the life-saving procedure.
Over a 12-day stay, Shipenko plans to shoot 35-40 minutes of footage, juggling roles as director, cinematographer, and makeup artist.
Yulia Peresild is slated to play Zhenya and is training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, according to SpaceNews. She'll fly with Shipenko and veteran cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov on Soyuz MS-19. Whether current ISS crew members Oleg Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov will cameo remains unclear. Post-production aims for a release no earlier than late 2022.
This Russian endeavor coincides with U.S. plans: Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman are slated for a 10-day ISS visit in October via SpaceX Crew Dragon to film scenes from their project, plot undisclosed.
