What I learned from astronaut Jim Lovell
Most people will remember James A. Lovell Jr. from Tom Hanks's portrayal of him in the movie 'Apollo 13,' but that is not what Lovell wanted to talk about in 2017 as I sat across from him; his wife, Marilyn; and their golden retriever, Toby. Instead, Lovell talked about Earth's exceptional place in the universe.
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4 days ago
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Tom Hanks Honors Astronaut Jim Lovell, Who He Portrayed in ‘Apollo 13': ‘God Speed You, on This Next Voyage'
Tom Hanks has shared a tribute to James A. Lovell, the astronaut he portrayed in the 1995 feature 'Apollo 13.' Lovell died Thursday at the age of 97. The film, directed by Ron Howard, starred Hanks as Lovell and dramatized the Apollo 13 lunar mission, which faced an explosion after launching and forced NASA scientists to improvise solutions to return its crew safely to Earth. 'There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the place we would not go on our own. Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy,' Hanks wrote in a tribute shared on his social media platforms. 'His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive — and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages.' More from Variety 'Apollo 13' Sets Imax Rerelease for 30th Anniversary- Film News in Brief The Rise of Ramo from Two-Person Law Firm to Industry Player Tom Hanks on Narrating 'The Americas,' the Power of Telling the Truth and Being Referred to as 'America's Dad': 'I'm Going to Treat That Seriously' 'On this night of a full Moon, he passes on — to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell,' the statement finishes. Howard also shared a statement honoring Lovell, as did his 'Apollo 13' producer Brian Grazer. 'Rest in peace, Commander Lovell. Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13,' Howard wrote. 'Simply knowing Jim has been a tremendous honor. His combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him one of the most remarkable individuals I've ever met. His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind.' 'Jim Lovell was a true American hero whose courage, intellect, and grace under pressure inspired a nation,' Grazer wrote. 'He was not only a legend in space exploration, but also an incredibly generous, kind and inspiring man. Thank you, Commander Lovell, for showing us the best of what we can be.' Lovell died Thursday in Illinois. He was 97. Along with Apollo 13, he was a veteran of three other spaceflights: Gemini VII, Gemini XII and Apollo 8. Released by Universal in June 1995 as a summer tentpole, 'Apollo 13' drew critical acclaim for its recreation of the nearly tragic mission and the nose-to-the-grindstone labor that saved lives. The film earned $355 million globally against a $52 million production budget, ranking as the third-highest-grossing global release of its year. It earned nine Academy Award nominations, including in best picture, and won two prizes, in best film editing and best sound. To commemorate its 30th anniversary, 'Apollo 13' is re-releasing to Imax theaters on Sept. 19. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
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4 days ago
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Ron Howard Says ‘Solo' Creative Clash Is ‘Still Just a Shame': Lucasfilm Blamed Tonal ‘Disconnect' With Original Directors but Some of Their Footage Was ‘Great'
Ron Howard opened up to Vulture in more detail than ever before about taking over the helm of the 'Star Wars' prequel movie 'Solo' after Lucasfilm and original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller had creative differences. Howard said it all came down to the movie's tone. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy asked him to a lunch meeting, where they were joined by 'Solo' co-writer Jonathan Kasdan. 'They basically said, 'We've reached a creative impasse with Lord and Miller. Would you ever consider coming in?'' Howard remembered. 'I looked at some edited footage, and I saw what was bothering them. There was a studio that liked the script the way it was and wanted a 'Star Wars' movie, but there was a disconnect early on tonally, and they weren't convinced that what Phil and Chris were doing was working effectively.' More from Variety John Boyega Assumed Finn Would Become a Jedi in 'Star Wars' Trilogy and Rey Would 'Turn Against' Him Like 'Obi-Wan and Darth Vader' Tom Hanks Honors Astronaut Jim Lovell, Who He Portrayed in 'Apollo 13': 'God Speed You, on This Next Voyage' Boba Fett Actor Temuera Morrison Tells 'Star Wars' Fans to Reach Out to Lucasfilm About His Return: 'All of You Need to Send a Letter or an Email' 'I couldn't judge that because I didn't see enough of it to know. But they were sure,' Howard continued. 'Once I said, 'Okay, I think I can do this script, and I think I understand what you want of this script,' they said, 'We'd want to reshoot a lot.' I looked at the whole movie and then pointed out some things that I thought were great. And Phil and Chris were incredibly gracious throughout that process. They were just seeing two different movies. So I came in, I had a blast, but there's nothing personal about that film whatsoever. It's still just a shame. I can't wait for Phil and Chris's next movie.' Howard even got the chance to consult with 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas, who was not involved in the development or filming of 'Solo.' Before Howard committed to taking over as 'Solo' director, he got advice from Lucas. The creator told him, 'Just don't forget — it's for 12-year-old boys.' 'Solo' was supposed to launch a new sector of storytelling for 'Star Wars' with young iterations of Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) being introduced and intended for sequels and spinoffs. The 2018 film also revealed that Darth Maul from 'The Phantom Menace' was still alive. None of these plans has taken shape after 'Solo' bombed at the box office with just $392 million worldwide. During an appearance on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast in 2019, Howard called the response to the film 'disappointing.' He said, 'It made a lot of money, it just didn't live up to expectations. I came in eager to help, felt like I could, and had a blast. Normally it takes three years, I worked eight months and had an experience. I feel very good about the way it turned out. I loved the way it played to audiences, which I witnessed. All of that I am able to feel good about.' Howard cited nostalgia as a reason 'Solo' might've bombed at the box office. 'Maybe it's the idea that it's too nostalgic,' he said. 'That going back and revisiting an origin story for a beloved character may not be what the fans were looking for.' Head over to Vulture's website to read Howard's interview in its entirety. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Washington Post
What I learned from astronaut Jim Lovell
Regarding the Aug. 9 front-page article 'Resourceful astronaut piloted treacherous Apollo 13 mission': Most people will remember James A. Lovell Jr. from Tom Hanks's portrayal of him in the movie 'Apollo 13,' but that is not what Lovell wanted to talk about in 2017 as I sat across from him; his wife, Marilyn; and their golden retriever, Toby. Instead, Lovell talked about Earth's exceptional place in the universe.
