Berengaria

James Marsters takes off for ITV's 'Moonshot'
In negotiations to play Buzz Aldrin

By Leslie Simmons and Mimi Turner
(from thr)
May 23, 2008, 01:00 AM

James Marsters is heading to the moon.

The actor is in final negotiations to play astronaut Buzz Aldrin in "Moonshot" for Britain's ITV.

The 90-minute telefilm tells the story of the July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 moon landing, beginning 11 days before the launch, and follows Aldrin and fellow astronauts Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins. ITV plans to air the movie in the U.K. in July 2009 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the mission.

Principal photography is set to begin June 3 in Lithuania.

The series was commissioned by ITV popular factual head Jo Clinton-Davies and produced by Dangerous Films, the creator of "Inside the Twin Towers." The estimated $5 million telefilm is being co-produced with a number of partners including the History Channel, ProSieben, TG1 and NTV Japan.

Marsters is best known for his role as Spike on the series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." He recently completed filming "Dragonball," Fox's live-action adaptation of the manga franchise. Marsters also has had recurring roles on "Smallville" and the BBC America series "Torchwood."

baileycat

So frek'n excited for him!

It will take 9 months to film this?

Berengaria

All we know is what James said...that he would be tied up with this for 9 months. That takes him to February...and I think the 2nd Dragonball will commence filming around then. So,2008....busy boy.

Goddess_of_Mischief

I saw that there has already been a JM manip made for this.

Berengaria

Should be easy enough to do...if you have the basic skills. Anyone want to try one using this photo?


Image:Aldrin.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Callace

this project is just SO great, My interest in James, and in modern history melting together I could ask for no more!

Berengaria

Filming starts in a little over a week. I'm dying to find out who else was cast!

Goddess_of_Mischief

I wish he would do something with Ancient History. Than I'd be set.

Berengaria

History-Schmistory...You just want to see him in a gladiator's skirt, doncha?

Goddess_of_Mischief

That and I love history.

Though I wouldn't mind seeing him naked like Brad Pitt in Troy either.

Callace

Aww, what wonderful fantasies watching him in Troy would have been great! But I think I'd go for the gladiator option. I love to see him fight

baileycat

OOh James will have to master Zero gravity for this film no doubt. I wonder if he'll get the NASA training where they take them up in a plane where they get to practice floating in the air.

sorry to take away from all the gladiator talk.

Callace

that will be a rather different "flying"experience from Smallville. hopefully he'll like it better

But I'd figure it would be very hard to mimic moon gravity in a studio?

baileycat

Well I suppose it can be done with harnesses and CG but for the method actors it would be cool for him to get into character just for the experience of that kind of flight.

Callace

Indeed. It would be an experience, mo matter what Wish I could try flying like that!

I suppose faking moon gravity in the movie wouldnt be that difficult, after all, almost anything is possible there nowadays...

(this makes me think of all the amusing conspiracy-theories , which claim that the moon landing was never more than a hollywood-project in the first place)