One of 2018’s most anticipated films is “First Man,” from director Damien Chazelle. After wowing audiences with his first two features, Chazelle is hoping to go three-for-three with his latest. And joining him for the ride is none other than his “La La Land” collaborator Ryan Gosling, set to play famed astronaut Neil Armstrong.
Thanks to People, we have our first look at what we can expect from the film, which had everyone talking after this year’s CinemaCon. “First Man” is the story of Armstrong as he prepares to become the first man to walk on the Moon.
People asked Chazelle what attracted him to this story, and why Ryan Gosling was his first choice:
“What fascinated me about Neil Armstrong is that he is kind of a mystery. For someone that accomplished something that is among one of the most famous things that anyone has ever accomplished, the human himself is a little bit of an enigma. And it’s funny, the first time I ever met Ryan was to pitch him this role, before we did ‘La La Land’ together, so it was a dream to have him in this role.”
“I was fascinated by the psychology of what can drive someone to do what Neil Armstrong did, to physically go further than any human being in history pretty much, in terms of the journey he goes on,” he continues. “I think Ryan is able to capture that kind of drive, that kind of methodical focus, that kind of quiet heroism.”
But don’t expect the film to just be a typical space adventure. No, Chazelle wants to bring something else to this incredible story. And that starts with actress Claire Foy, who plays Armstrong’s wife in the film.
“Ryan and Claire Foy had never worked together, but I remember right from the beginning they just slipped into these roles, and just became a family on camera,” Chazelle says. “There was this sort of chemistry and bond between Ryan and Claire onscreen that really felt like the young Neil and Janet Armstrong that I had read about.”
“Ryan and I described the movie to each other as it’s about the moon and the kitchen, which means basically we wanted to tell the story about one of the most epic accomplishments in human history, but root it very much in the intimate and the day to day details of what it was actually like.” he continues.
We’ll have to see if Chazelle, Gosling, and Foy were able to succeed in trying to make their movie about “the moon and the kitchen” when the film debuts later this year. Many are expecting that “First Man” could be another Oscar contender for both Chazelle and Gosling. Regardless of where the film falls come Oscar season, Chazelle only had one goal – to tell a good space story rooted in humanity.
“I wanted to try to tell the sort of epic space movie [story] but root it very much in family and in love and loss and marriage and parenthood and what those things mean,” concludes Chazelle.
“First Man” stars Gosling and Foy, alongside Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Jon Bernthal, Jason Clarke, and Ethan Embry. The film is set to debut in theaters on October 12.
