DirectorAlejandra Márquez Abella’s biopic for Prime Video,A Million Miles Away, starringNarcos: Mexico’sMichael Peña, has started production in Mexico City. This inspiring tale is an adaptation of American engineer and former astronautJosé Moreno Hernández’s autobiography that chronicles the journey of a young boy’s dreams to the stars. Prime Video recently announced that the film’s cast is stacking up, with starsRosa Salazar, Peña’sNarcosco-starsBobby SotoandJulio Cesar Cedillo,Veronica Falcón,Sarayu BlueandEric Johnsonboarding the project.
The screenplay forA Million Miles Away, co-written by filmmaker Abella withBettina Gilois(Bessie) andHernàn Jiménez, is based on the true story of former astronaut Hernández, who grew up working his migrant family’s farms at a very young age, traveling between 9 months in California and 3 months in Michoacán. In his autobiography,Reaching for the Stars, Hernández explains that in the very early hours of the morning he would head out with his family at the age of six to work the harvest, only to be swayed by the lure of the stars, far from the city lights.
Following the epochal moon-landing in 1969 (and watching episodes ofStar Trek, naturally), he knew that the sky proved no limitation to what he was destined to do in life. Defying insurmountable odds, and with the unwavering support of his family, Hernández persevered through 11 rejections from NASA to become the first migrant farmworker to go to space.
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Peña is set to star, and is known for his roles in Netflix’sNarcos: Mexico, and by Marvel fans as Scott Lang’s (Paul Rudd) best friend and loudmouthed ally Luis inAnt-Man. Other credits includeDavid O. Russell’sAmerican Hustle, Oscar-winningCrashand12 StrongwithChris Hemsworth. Peña is joined by hisNarcosco-stars Soto and Cedillo (Sicario); Salazar who plays Brenda inThe Maze Runnersaga, and stars as the titular character inRobert Rodriguez’sAlita: Battle Angel; Falcón, who’s featured in Netflix’sOzarkandQueen of the South; Blue (I Feel Bad) andFifty Shades Darker’s Johnson. Additionally,Jordan Dean,Ashley Ciarra,Michelle Krusiec,Emma Fassler,Michael Adler,Carols SanchezandIsaac Arellanesround out the cast.
A Million Miles Awaymarks Abella’s debut English-language film following her tense dramaSemana Santaand her award-winning sophomore feature-length filmThe Good Girls, which takes place during Mexico’s 1982 economic crisis. Abella is no stranger to overcoming obstacles when the odds are stacked against you, giving her insight to Hernández’s own story. According toThe Hollywood Reporter, the director “spearheaded Mexico’s Ya Es Hora movement,” to condemn gender violence, comparable to the U.S’s #MeToo movement. The film is being produced by Select Films’Campbell McInnesandMark Ciardi, and is executive produced byKyle ConvissarandBenito Martinez.
As of right now,A Million Miles Awayhas no set release date. Learn more about Hernández’s story with the PBS special below:
