As one of Ryan Murphy's go-to actors for his “American Horror Story" franchise, Emma Roberts has been sawed in half, played a ruthless witch and a final girl facing off against a serial killer. Most recently she was a pregnant actor targeted by a cult. When the opportunity to play a college dropout-turned-NASA trainee in the came along, she jumped at the change in tone.
“This movie kind of feels nostalgic, kind of early 2000s in a way, but also fresh and fun,” said Roberts in an interview. Roberts executive produces and stars in the movie premiering Thursday on Prime Video. She's Rex, a young woman who had big dreams growing up of becoming an astronaut but whose adult reality has taken a different path.
Rex is working as a bartender when she gets accepted to a NASA trainee program. The movie co-stars Tom Hopper, Poppy Liu of “Hacks” and Gabrielle Union. The script reminded Roberts of “Private Benjamin” and “Legally Blonde," and she was excited to play “the underestimated female character who ends up surprising people in unexpected ways.
” It was her past work in “American Horror Story” that made writer, director Liz W. Garcia confident that Roberts could play Rex. “The genre itself might be horror, but she's always got a wink," said Garcia.
“This is Hollywood blonde stuff and playing with that archetype. Emma was really into the idea of having a Goldie Hawn moment for herself by leaning into physical comedy and something a little more heightened. Sh.