Alongside promoting Exodus: Gods and Kings this fall, Ridley Scott will also be focusing on his next project, a return to the world of sci-fi with The Martian. Led by Matt Damon, the film follows him as an astronaut stranded on Mars that must figure out a way to return to Earth. With Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Mackenzie Davis and Jeff Daniels on board, The Wrap reports that Community‘s Donald Glover has joined as a NASA employee while Headhunters star Aksel Hennie has also been added. Production kicks off shortly ahead of a release on November 25th, 2015.
In other casting news, the Marvel universe continues to expand with Robert Downey Jr. entering talks to join Captain America 3 for a hefty payday of at least $40 million, according to Variety. The film, which is set for a release in May of 2016, is said to kick off the Civl War storyline that finds Tony Stark/Iron Man becoming villainous as he goes up against Steve Roger/Captain America. Anthony and Joe Russo are set to return as directors for the film — which is said to more akin to The Avengers 2.5 then anything else — and if Badass Digest is to be believed, the duo are also in talks for The Avengers 3 and 4.
Lastly, Inglourious Basterds star Diane Kruger has booked two more roles, Deadline reports. The first will be Maryland, coming from Augustine director Alice Winocour. Also starring Matthias Schoenaerts, the film follows him as a PTSD-afflicted former solider that’s been tasked to protect the family of a Lebanese businessman who goes out of town. Kruger will also star in Sky, which is directed by Fabienne Berthaud, who she worked with in Lily Sometimes and Frankie. The English-language drama follows “a woman’s reawakening through her solitary journey into foreign lands” and we’d expect both to surface at festivals next year.
Which of the above projects are you most looking forward to?