Key Highlights

  • September 2026 will see the opening of “The Moonwalkers” at South Florida PBS, co‑written and narrated by Tom Hanks.
  • Lightroom, the London creative studio founded in 2023, produced the immersive experience.
  • Investors led by Sir Leonard Blavatnik, with representation from Access Entertainment and former Goldman Sachs executive Mike Sherwood, back the project.
  • The show integrates newly filmed NASA Artemis astronaut interviews and restored Apollo imagery.

South Florida PBS is set to add a high‑profile cultural attraction that could draw visitors from across the state and beyond, reinforcing the link between public broadcasting and tourism‑driven revenue streams. The exhibition’s September rollout aligns with renewed global fascination with lunar exploration, positioning the region as a destination for space‑themed entertainment.

What Happened

On July 9, the public‑media stations WPBT and WXEL announced that they will host “The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks” beginning in September 2026. The immersive presentation, co‑written and voiced by the award‑winning actor, was built by the London‑based creative firm Lightroom, a joint venture created in 2023 by Nick Starr CBE and CEO Richard Slaney. The project also receives support from Paquin Entertainment Group, an arts partner founded in 1985, and from a consortium of investors headed by Sir Leonard Blavatnik.

Market Impact

The new show is expected to boost attendance at South Florida PBS venues, providing a fresh revenue source for a public‑service broadcaster that already operates multiple channels, including WXEL‑TV and the 24/7 Health Channel. Ancillary benefits may extend to local hospitality businesses, as visitors seek dining and lodging options surrounding the exhibition dates. The involvement of a high‑profile Hollywood name and exclusive NASA content also raises the profile of the regional entertainment sector, potentially attracting additional sponsorship and partnership opportunities.

What's Next

Tickets will become available after prospective attendees join the waiting list hosted on the PBS website. As the rollout proceeds, Lightroom’s touring network, currently active in South Korea, China, the United States, and Europe through a collaboration with Culturespaces, could see this project used as a template for future space‑related installations. Stakeholders will monitor visitor response and ancillary spending to gauge the longer‑term financial contribution to the public‑media ecosystem.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial adviser before making investment decisions.