Emma Roberts on ‘Space Cadet,’ Blaming the Internet for ‘Madame Web’ Flopping and Being Protected as a Nickelodeon Child Star

variety.com:

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events Emma Roberts knows that her new movie, “Space Cadet,” is an any easy target for critics and cynics. “It’s earnest,” she says on this week’s “Just for Variety” podcast. “And people are probably going to make fun of that, but it’s like, you know what, whatever.

I think that it’s better to be earnest and do your best and be proud of what you do, no matter the reception.” Roberts stars in the film, written and directed by “Purple Hearts” writer Liz W.

Garcia, as Rex, a bartender who decides to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. When she is accepted into NASA’s highly competitive astronaut-training program, things go sideways after learning that her best friend (“Hacks” actor Poppy Liu) had embellished her application. “I just fell so in love with it,” Roberts recalls of reading the “Space Cadet” script. “I felt like it really just reminded me of all the movies that I loved as a kid and a teen, and it felt super fresh, but at the same time really nostalgic.

Everything I had been reading was so dark and depressing and felt very kind of small, and I just wanted to do something that felt inspiring and fun and light, and this was that for me.” You’re also a producer on the movie.