During the 1960s Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union, a relationship develops between the NASA director in charge of the Apollo 11 launch and the marketing specialist brought in to fix NASA's public image and stage a "back-up" fake Moon landing.[6]
In March 2022, Apple Studios announced they had acquired the rights to produce a movie set in the backdrop of the Space Race, then titled of Project Artemis, for $100 million. Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans were also announced as starring in the film, with Jason Bateman directing.[8] In May, Bateman said the working title Project Artemis was likely to change.[9] He left the project the following month, citing creative differences,[10] and was later replaced by Greg Berlanti, his first directorial effort since 2018's Love, Simon.
The search for a new director and Berlanti's availability changed the production schedule, forcing Evans to drop out as well. In July, Channing Tatum entered into negotiations to replace him.[11] In September, Jim Rash joined the cast.[12]Ray Romano, Anna Garcia, and Woody Harrelson would be added in the following months.[13][14][15]
Principal photography began on October 27, 2022, in Atlanta, with a casting call issued seeking extras to play NASA employees and FBI agents.[16] By December 21, 2023, with a release date of July 12, 2024 set, the film was no longer titled Project Artemis.[3] In April 2024, the film's new title was revealed to be Fly Me to the Moon,[6][17] and Daniel Pemberton was confirmed to compose the score for the film.[18]
Release
Following their partnership on Napoleon, Apple entered into another agreement with Sony Pictures to distribute the film in cinemas in December 2023.[19] That same month, it was scheduled for a theatrical release in the United States and Canada on July 12, 2024.[20]
The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in South Africa on July 5, 2024; in France and Belgium on July 10; in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy, and Mexico on July 11; and in the United Kingdom, Spain and Poland on July 12, 2024.