HBO Max’s Sci-Fi Rom-Com ‘Moonshot’ Adds Zach Braff As An Elon Musk-Type
Zach Braffis quite simply doing it all these days. The popularScrubsactor pivoted to the director’s chair a few years back with the family comedyGoing in Styleand even helmed an episode of the hit showTed Lasso(for which herecently received an Emmy nomination). Now, he’s set to get right back on the other side of the camera again for the upcoming HBO Max film,Moonshot.The Hollywood Reporterhas the scoop on the actor joining the project that has been described as “a rom-com with a sci-fi twist.” It will be directed byChris Winterbauerin his most high-profile production yet after first arriving on the scene with his debut featureWyrm. From a script written byMax Taxe, the futurized plot follows two college students sneaking on board a shuttle bound for human settlements on a colonized Mars. Why? For love, of course!
So, Who is Braff Playing?
Braff’s role appears to be theslightly more successful version of someone like Elon Musk, an “entrepreneur and a visionary” mainly responsible for the colonization efforts. We’re left to assume thathisseries of test flights, at the very least, experienced marginally fewersetbacks of the, uh, explosive naturethan his ostensible real-life counterpart.
In terms of co-stars,Lana Condorwas first tabbed to star inMoonshotover a year ago, marking her first major follow-up to the successful Netflix trilogyTo All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Braff will be the biggest addition to the cast following the previously-announced Condor,Cole Sprouse,Mason Gooding,Emily Rudd, andLukas Gage.
Notably, the currently-filming production is being produced byGreg Berlanti, best known for his CW DC superhero shows,Riverdale, and also directingLove, Simon. His involvement withMoonshotis also a reunion of sorts after writing and directingThe Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedyback in 2000, Berlanti’s debut film that happened to feature a fresh-faced Zach Braff.
Braff, of course, is looking at an increasingly busy schedule these days. He recently finished filming his role for Disney+‘sCheaper by the Dozenremake and will next appear alongside Robert DeNiro inThe Comeback Trail. The Hollywood Reporter also reports that Braff is both writing and directing the currently in-developmentA Good Person, starring Morgan Freeman and Florence Pugh.
