Ryan Gosling was Damien Chazelle's only choice for First Man

For director Damien Chazelle, there was only one choice for who he wanted to play Neil Armstrong in First Man.

Finding the right fit for Janet, Armstrong’s wife, was trickier, but Chazelle said once he heard Claire Foy (The Crown) read from a real interview Janet had once given, he was sold.

To help him prepare, Gosling turned to Armstrong’s sons and many others involved in the moon landing and his life. “Neil’s sons were very involved,” Gosling said. “A lot of people helping to add perspective and help us get to the man behind the myth. Neil and Janet and his family lived an extraordinary life.”

Chazelle reminisces about words of wisdom Gosling once shared that get to the heart of the film and the challenge of portraying Armstrong: “You think it’s a movie about someone who lands on the moon, but really it’s a movie about someone struggling to land on earth.”