The First Men in the Moon (2010) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story primarily takes place on the Moon, a desolate underground world inhabited by the Selenites. Earthbound scenes occur around Apuldram, where scientist Professor Cavor and his partner Julius Bedford first develop their lunar craft, and near West Wittering, where Bedford returns after the voyage. The Moon's barren surface conceals a sophisticated underground civilization.

• moon setting
• selenites
• apuldram
• west wittering
• locations

The main lunar adventure occurs in 1909 when Cavor and Bedford travel to the Moon using Cavorite, a gravity-defying material. The framing narrative is set in July 1969, when an elderly Bedford recounts his story to a young boy named Jim, just as the world watches the Apollo 11 landing. This structure bridges early 20th-century science fiction with theSpace Age.

• 1909
• 1969
• time period
• apollo 11
• framing narrative

The movie explores three major themes: Exploration, representing human curiosity and the wonder and danger of first contact with alien cultures; Science & Invention, examining how groundbreaking technology like Cavorite can propel humanity forward while inviting unforeseen risks; and Conflict & Consequences, showing how interplanetary contact can escalate into existential threats when fear drives preemptive action.

• themes
• exploration
• first contact
• science
• conflict
• cavorite

Professor Arthur Cavor is the brilliant scientist who invents Cavorite, a material that defies gravity and enables space travel. Played by Mark Gatiss, he is determined and practical, building the expedition sphere that carries humans to the Moon. While imprisoned by the Selenites, he shares scientific knowledge with the alien civilization, ultimately making a sacrificial choice that has far-reaching consequences.

• professor cavor
• mark gatiss
• scientist
• cavorite inventor

Julius Bedford is Cavor's partner on Earth, portrayed as physically formidable and resourceful. He grapples with the moral implications of their lunar discovery, fights for survival during their captivity, and ultimately returns to Earth to tell the tale. As an elderly man in 1969, he recounts the adventure to young Jim, framing the entire story as a nostalgic, regret-filled memory.

• julius bedford
• rory kinnear
• protagonist
• narrator

The Selenites are the Moon's underground civilization, intelligent aliens who live beneath the Moon's barren surface. They are governed by the Grand Lunar and have developed a sophisticated society. When humans arrive, the Selenites must decide how to respond to this interplanetary contact, ultimately contemplating pre-emptive action against humanity based on perceived threat.

• selenites
• moon inhabitants
• alien civilization
• grand lunar

Cavorite is Professor Cavor's invention, a revolutionary material that can negate gravity. It enables the construction of a spacecraft capable of traveling to the Moon. The substance is central to the story's Science & Invention theme, demonstrating how scientific breakthroughs can open new frontiers while also inviting unforeseen risks and moral questions about responsible discovery.

• cavorite
• gravity
• invention
• spacecraft
• science

The Moon appears as a desolate, barren world on its surface, where sunlight releases frozen atmosphere. However, beneath this barren exterior lies a vast underground network where the Selenite civilization thrives. The Moon's transformation is tied to interplanetary contact and the use of Cavorite, ultimately resulting in catastrophic changes to the lunar environment.

• moon surface
• underground civilization
• lunar landscape
• atmosphere

The movie carries a predominantly melancholic tone, established through the nostalgic, regret-filled narrative of elderly Bedford recounting his tale. The ending is bittersweet: Earth is saved from potential invasion, but at the cost of Cavor's life and the total destruction of the lunar civilization. A haunting final image of a lone Selenite leaves viewers with a lingering sense of loss and caution.

• melancholic
• tone
• bittersweet
• ending
• mood
• nostalgia

The movie explores first contact between humans and the Selenites as a complex, dangerous encounter. It shows how initial wonder at discovering alien life quickly gives way to fear and mutual suspicion. The Selenites contemplate pre-emptive warfare against Earth, while humans inadvertently bring catastrophe through their presence and technology, suggesting that contact between civilizations carries inherent risks.

• first contact
• alien
• war
• fear
• interstellar conflict
• selenites

The Grand Lunar is the leader of the Selenites, portrayed by Philip Jackson. He represents the alien perspective on Earth's exploration of the Moon and contemplates pre-emptive action against humanity. His decision-making drives much of the Conflict & Consequences theme, as he weighs whether the potential threat from humans justifies aggressive response.

• grand lunar
• philip jackson
• selenite leader
• moon ruler