A French Entrepreneur Leading a Film Studio Collaborates with a Pioneering Stratospheric Travel Start-Up in France. From this partnership, a film titled Above The End is set to be born, featuring scenes shot 25 km above the Earth aboard a pressurized capsule.
In the Most Spacious Capsule on the Market
In 2019, French entrepreneur Gaël Bonnel Sanchez was already making waves with a space-related initiative. He launched Interstellar Humanity, a project aimed at interstellar colonization featuring DNA capsules. The goal? To enable humanity to embed life on other planets and in different universes. As highlighted by the magazine Deadline in an article dated May 16, 2025, he is back with another ambitious venture: Above The End. This film will be partially shot in the stratosphere within a pressurized capsule transported by a balloon.
The project is being spearheaded by Hollywood Influence Studios, which integrates cutting-edge technologies into its productions. Most notably, the main partner is none other than Zephalto, a pioneering stratospheric travel start-up in France. Their research on stratospheric travel has already garnered support from Airbus and the European Space Agency (ESA). The company prides itself on offering the most spacious capsule on the market (20m²), accommodating a handful of passengers and two pilots.
The First Film Partially Shot in Space
Above The End will tell the story of six passengers, including a former astronaut, a scientist, a journalist, an influencer, and a newlywed couple. While the film’s makers have brainstormed the types of passengers required for the storyline, it is yet to be determined who will actually make up the crew.
The group will embark on a single, astonishing journey aboard a stratospheric balloon. Once at an altitude of 25 km, the crew will witness a spectacle that is both terrifying and spectacular: the beginning of a total nuclear war on the Earth’s surface. Faced with the inability to communicate with the ground and the overwhelming likelihood that a return to Earth is impossible, will the passengers discover an alternative path?
In essence, despite a relatively modest budget, this will mark the first feature film partially shot in space. Obviously, nothing can occur without Zephalto and its promising technology. This start-up had previously made headlines due to its collaboration with the National Center for Space Studies (CNES). Finally, pre-production of Above The End is expected to commence soon, with filming tentatively scheduled for late 2025.
This innovative project not only showcases the convergence of cinema and space exploration but also emphasizes the potential of modern technology in revolutionizing storytelling. As the realm of film continues to push boundaries, the collaboration between Hollywood Influence Studios and Zephalto could set the precedent for future cinematic endeavors in extreme environments. The excitement surrounding Above The End is palpable, and it opens a new chapter in both the film industry and the exploration of space.
With the project being both groundbreaking and ambitious, it brings forth discussions about the ethical implications of depicting catastrophic events such as nuclear war in films. The filmmakers have a delicate task of balancing dramatic storytelling with a sense of responsibility toward real-world issues.
As we look forward to the release of Above The End, one thing is clear: the combination of cinematic artistry and scientific exploration offers extraordinary possibilities that could inspire future generations.