While he latest film, Exodus: Gods and Kings, was a flat dud, Ridley Scott has shown he still has some vitality in him with the wonderfully deranged The Counselor and, at least on a visual side, Prometheus. His latest project finds him returning to space, but thankfully there won’t be any aliens to muck about with this time. The Martian finds Matt Damon stranded on the distant planet and (at least initially) cut off from communication with the outside world.
Although that might sound too familiar to those that have seen a certain Christopher Nolan film, having read Andy Weir‘s 2012 novel, the similarities soon wear off as this becomes a survival story with about half of the tale taking place back on Earth as NASA attempt to bring him back from Mars, and the world hangs onto every moment. With much of the novel being journal entries written by Damon about his experience, we’re intrigued to see how Drew Goddard adapts the material, which is heavy on calculations and technical feats to do anything to live out another few days.
“Any survival story is fascinating,” Scott tells Empire, who debuted the images. “I think of it as a 21st century Robinson Crusoe.” With an epic, varied, cast, including Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Sean Bean, Mackenze Davis, Donald Glover, Michael Pena, and more, it’s quite a promising drama. Set for a Thanksgiving release, check out the images above and below and return for the trailer.
Update: More new images have arrived via EW and People.
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring “the Martian” home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney’s safe return. Based on a best-selling novel.
The Martian opens on November 25th.