Greg Berlanti on NASA’s Conspiracies and Farewell to the Arrowverse

Fly Me to the Moon director Greg Berlanti doesn’t primarily see himself as a director. Instead, he identifies as a storyteller who adapts his role—whether producer, writer, or director—depending on what best serves the project. His latest film, Fly Me to the Moon, gave him the chance to collaborate with Scarlett Johansson, crafting a romantic comedy-drama set around the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing.

Berlanti’s motivation to direct Fly Me to the Moon differed greatly from his reasoning for directing the 2018 comedy-drama Love, Simon, which tells the coming-out story of a teenager. Love, Simon paved the way for Hulu’s spinoff series Love, Victor. “Love, Simon was a chance to make a film that wasn’t there when I was a kid,” Berlanti shared. In contrast, Fly Me to the Moon allowed him to create the type of all-encompassing, star-led original movies that were a weekend staple during his childhood.

Fly Me to the Moon, penned by Rose Gilroy, covers a range of genres, including romance, drama, comedy, and action. Johansson plays Kelly Jones, a character blending marketing brilliance with con artistry. Recruited by Woody Harrelson’s shadowy G-man, Kelly’s mission is to rebrand NASA during the 1960s Space Race to secure government funding for the Apollo 11 mission. As the film progresses, Kelly is asked to prepare a backup plan in case the Moon landing fails, involving a fake broadcast, which she orchestrates despite the risk to her relationship with NASA director Cole Davis, played by Channing Tatum.

The film celebrates America’s monumental achievement of landing on the Moon while emphasizing the importance of truth in society. To convey this, the storytellers had to tackle a longstanding conspiracy theory about the Moon landing. Even NASA welcomed the idea, recognizing the potential to underline the significance of truth through this narrative.

“NASA was interested in participating because their ethos matched ours: ‘To appreciate what was truly achieved, we must address this conspiracy theory,’” Berlanti stated. “The movie ultimately highlights why the truth is so essential—no better time to address this, and in a fun, lighthearted way. Underneath it all, it’s about achieving unity.”

Berlanti is widely recognized as a prolific TV producer. Shows under the Berlanti-verse include Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batwoman. He prefers the term “Arrowverse,” but acknowledges that Berlanti-verse is a broader term. With the final adventures of Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman airing this fall, Berlanti reflects on his extensive contributions to The CW. Alongside the MCU and the Conjuring universe, the Berlanti-verse stands as one of the few shared universes with lasting influence.

Recalling his journey, Berlanti says, “The wish fulfillment of creating these stories I grew up with—and to do so with such remarkable actors, writers, and directors—was a Camelot-esque era. Though unintended initially, it became larger than life. That time was exceptionally special to me. I’m very nostalgic about the good fortune I had then, wishing everyone the best.”

Discussing Fly Me to the Moon, Berlanti revealed how a feline scene-stealer named Mischief added a unique element to the film despite his cat allergies. “I cut out a few scenes involving the cat, but the three cats playing Mischief were so talented. They adapted quickly to new sets and their roles were truthful,” he reminisced.

Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of Kelly Jones was marked by nuanced smile acting, which impressed Berlanti. “Though everything is ultimately her instinct, Scarlett gave us a range of truthful options,” he praised. “Each actor in the film brought their unique talents, making their performances believable and enriching the narrative further.”

Berlanti also shared how DP Dariusz Wolski and Colin Jost were brought into the fold. Wolski’s expertise became central to the film’s authentic 1960s feel, and Berlanti had Wolski play a fictional DP in the movie. Colin Jost added charm with his appearance, fulfilling Berlanti’s vision.

As the Berlanti-verse approaches its conclusion after over 12 years, Berlanti reflects on his achievements. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and collaboration, stating, “Our company’s success isn’t just about the number of shows we’ve created but also about making other showrunners. As long as we’re excited to work with certain people and tell essential stories, I’ll continue with the same dedication. The number of projects may vary, but the approach remains consistent.”

Fly Me to the Moon is currently playing exclusively in movie theaters.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter