Michelle Williams Set to Play Christa McAuliffe in The Challenger

Deadline reports that Michelle Williams is set to play astronaut Christa McAuliffe in The Challenger, which begins production in May.

It’s based on the real life tragedy of the January 28, 1986 space shuttle The Challenger, which exploded 73 seconds after takeoff on live TV (at Cape Canaveral), killing all seven passengers. McAuliffe was a high school teacher in New Hampshire who won NASA’s Teacher in Space Project, becoming part of the crew. McAuliffe would have conducted classes on board if the mission was successful, making her the first teacher in space. Schools have been named in her honor and she was posthumously given the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

The film will be produced by John and Art Linson and Argent Pictures’ Ben Renzo. Martin Zandvliet will direct from a script by Jayson Rothwell. Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens, Drew Brees, Tony Parker, Michael Finley and Derrick Brooks are the executive producers.

Renzo said: “We are more than humbled and extremely grateful for the opportunity to help tell the story of Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger mission. Christa McAuliffe’s legacy deserves the strength, courage, experience and humanity that Michelle Williams brings to the role. The entire Argent team is honored and eager to responsibly capture and share the events and personal journeys of those surrounding this important historical moment with audiences around the world to help remember and further appreciate the sacrifices Christa and rest of the Challenger crew made to further our journey into space.“