London, United Kingdom — Tom Hanks, the renowned actor known for his portrayal of American astronaut Jim Lovell in the iconic film “Apollo 13,” has revealed his genuine desire to journey into space.
During the promotion of his latest project, the immersive exhibition “The Moonwalkers,” Hanks expressed his eagerness to contribute to a lunar mission in a hands-on way.
“I would like to be the guy in charge of serving food and making jokes to and from the moon,” Hanks disclosed to The Telegraph in London. He humorously added, “If there was room, I would be the guy that cleans up, makes jokes, tells stories, and keeps everybody entertained.”
In his enthusiasm for the prospect of space travel, Hanks declared, “I’m your man. I would probably sign up right now! That might be a good idea. I’ll do all the work. I’ll clean the toilet. I’ll serve the food. I’ll fold clothes. I’ll stow the gear. That way the others could be free to do other stuff.”
Hanks is currently lending his voice and storytelling prowess to “The Moonwalkers,” an immersive film experience he co-wrote with BAFTA-nominated writer and director Christopher Riley. The exhibition, which debuts at the Lightroom in King’s Cross, London on December 6th, delves into the stories of the Apollo missions and features interviews with astronauts from NASA’s Artemis program.
Hanks lauded the Artemis program for its equitable representation of men and women among its members, praising it as a significant milestone on the path to the first female lunar landing. “Four people on Artemis are going to see the Earth rise over the moon, and some of them are going to be a gender other than male,” Hanks commented, highlighting the program’s role in advancing human progress.
The upcoming Artemis-II mission, scheduled for launch next November, will see four astronauts embarking on a journey akin to Lovell’s historic Apollo 8 mission.
Describing “The Moonwalkers” as “truly the most immersive medium I’ve ever witnessed,” Hanks expressed his inspiration drawn from the vastness of the Lightroom. He recalled being moved by the David Hockney exhibition, asserting, “You could walk on to the moon in here if you wanted to.”
Additionally, Hanks noted his fascination with the imagery captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, which he likened to a “time machine.”
“The Moonwalkers” offers a 50-minute cinematic experience accompanied by an original score composed by Anne Nikitin, known for her work on the Apple TV+ series “Hijack,” starring Idris Elba.
The exhibition is set to run from December 6th, 2023, to April 21st, 2024, with tickets available for purchase online, offering an opportunity for space enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the allure of lunar exploration.
