Moonwalkers

In the days leading up to the Apollo 11 Moon landing, the CIA assigned agent Tom Kidman a crucial and morally ambiguous task. Kidman's objective was to hire filmmaker Stanley Kubrick to produce a staged moon landing in case the real astronauts failed in their mission, a strategy designed to safeguard American morale during the Cold War.

Armed with a suitcase full of cash from the CIA, Kidman travels to England to persuade Kubrick to take on the job. The stakes are high, as the CIA also orders Kidman to eliminate Kubrick once the task is complete to prevent any leaks about the deception.

Upon arriving in England, Kidman mistakenly meets Jonny Thorpe, Kubrick's agent's cousin, instead of the director himself. Desperate for a solution, Jonny exploits the opportunity and arranges a meeting with Kidman, leading to unforeseen chaos as they concoct their scheme.

Jonny introduces Kidman to Leon, his stoner roommate, who pretends to be Kubrick. Kidman, unbeknownst to the ruse, hands over the briefcase filled with cash, celebrating their success with extravagant spending, all while being tracked by the Iron Monger's shady henchmen.

The excitement is short-lived as the Iron Monger's henchmen break into Jonny's home, brutally beating him and stealing the briefcase. Kidman realizes that he has been duped and that the meeting with 'Kubrick' was a complete illusion, prompting a fierce desire to track down the stolen money.

After confronting Jonny about the scheme, Kidman learns that a director named Renatus could actually produce the Moon landing film. Kidman is taken to Renatus’s commune-like mansion where creativity reigns, and Renatus eagerly agrees to participate, oblivious to the true nature of the project.

Kidman decides to confront the Iron Monger to retrieve the briefcase. In a dramatic turn of events, he resorts to violence, killing several of the Iron Monger's henchmen and successfully reclaiming the money. This marks a significant turning point, showcasing Kidman's growing volatility.

With the project back on, the production halts as Renatus insists on turning the film into an avant-garde art piece. Kidman, trying to fit in, consumes an opium-laced bong hit, causing him to undergo a harrowing trip that complicates his already fragile mental state.

In an attempt to recover from his drug-induced experience, Kidman is given LSD by Ella, a free-spirited hippie who becomes interested in him. On this psychedelic journey, he professes to Ella that he wants to move away from violence, reflecting an inner transformation while in the throes of his trip.

Alarmed by Kidman's incoherent call to the CIA, agents are dispatched to England to regain control of the situation. They take everyone at the commune hostage, demanding that the filming of the fake Moon landing commence immediately, leading to an unexpected and tense stand-off.

Jonny and Leon reluctantly take on the roles of astronauts while the CIA sets up their operations. As the shoot progresses, Leon’s nerves lead him to take more drugs, resulting in erratic behavior and chaos on set that further complicates the filming of their false Moon landing.

The situation escalates dramatically with the arrival of the Iron Monger, who bursts in to reclaim his stolen money. A fierce shootout ensues between the CIA and the Iron Monger's henchmen, resulting in casualties and chaos that threaten to derail the entire mission.

In the midst of the chaos, the false footage from the filming is transmitted via closed circuit to the CIA headquarters. Despite the gunfire and confusion, the CIA successfully receives their desired content, marking a pivotal and ironic moment in Kidman's mission.

After eliminating the Iron Monger, Kidman tells Jonny that his space suit absorbed the bullet from the shootout, falsely claiming that Jonny’s actions saved him. This moment encapsulates Kidman's transformation and the impact of violence versus camaraderie as they bond over their harrowing experience.

Now wanted by the CIA, Jonny, Leon, Kidman, and Ella must quickly escape England. As they journey towards Spain, they share a moment of collective uncertainty while watching the Moon landing on television, torn between reality and the fabricated truth they created.