In a recent interview, Tom Hanks claimed that Jeff Bezos, the wealthy creator of Amazon, offered to take him to space before William Shatner, but joked that he would have to pay.

This week, the actor appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and was asked if it was true that Bezos offered to take him on the historic voyage.

Mr Hanks said: “Well yeah, provided I pay.

“It costs like 28 million bucks or something like that.

“I’m doing good Jimmy, I’m doing good, but I ain’t paying 28 million bucks”.

Tom continued to joke about the space journey, saying, “You know what, we could simulate the experience of going to space right now,” imitating the shaking of the rocket while sitting down, adding, “I don‘t need to spend 28 million bucks to do that.”

When Kimmel asked Hanks whether he’d agree to fly for free, he said, “I would do it on occasion just in order to experience the joy — pretending I’m a billionaire.”

Blue Origin has yet to release the cost of the space tickets, but Bezos has stated that the project is already a tremendous success, referring to impending spaceflights, with roughly $100 million in tickets already sold to future crew members.

Instead of Tom Hanks, “Star Trek” actor William Shatner (second from right) took over the mission.
Blue Origin/Mega

Last month, Shatner and three other passengers in the fully autonomous capsule were launched to an altitude of 66.5 miles above the West Texas desert before safely parachuting down to Earth. The flight was slightly over ten minutes long. He called it the “most profound experience,” explaining “I hope I never recover from this. I hope that I can maintain what I feel now. I don”t want to lose it.”

“What you have given me is the most profound experience I can imagine,” he later told Bezos through tears. “I’m so filled with emotion about what just happened.”

Jeff Bezos (right) greets William Shatner (left) as he emerges from the capsule after landing following the New Shepard’s NS-18 mission to space.
BLUE ORIGIN/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shut

Shatner became the oldest person to reach space at the age of 90.