Steve Carell's photo taped over real Space Force chief in clever museum prank

Netflix's Space Force series hasn't yet landed, but its fictional characters are finding their way into our very real institutions.

Museum employees at the currently closed National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio have found a moment of viral fame with a subtle prank related to the Netflix series.

A photo taken of the museum's air force leadership display and posted to Reddit by user El-Justiciero shows a photo of Carell's fictional character, General Mark R. Naird — who lands the job of running the newest and sixth branch of the U.S. military in the Netflix comedy. Naird's photo has been pasted over the top of the very real Chief of Space Operations, General John W. "Jay" Raymond's official photo, along with a fictional bio.

“Gen. Mark R. Naird assumed the duties as the first Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force, on Dec. 20, 2019,” the fake bio reads, remixing passages that appear on Raymond's real bio. "The U.S. Space Force is responsible for providing resilient, defendable and affordable space capabilities for the Nation and the Joint Force. It is the duty of the U.S. Space Force to protect the interests of the United States in space; deter aggression in, from, and to space; and conduct prompt and sustained space operations."

Rob Bardua from the Public Affairs Division of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force told Mashable the photo was a prank performed by employees of the museum, who took advantage of the closed facility, which temporarily shut its doors from March 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"The photo is not real and was an attempt by museum employees at a creative and humorous prank done while the museum is updating exhibits during the time it is closed as a public health precaution in relation to COVID-19," said Bardua.

"The Museum has updated its Air Force Leadership display to reflect the standup of the Space Force."

Pretty strong use of a closed museum if you ask us.

Netflix's Space Force, meanwhile, lands May 29, along with its new podcast.