Thrills, humor help lure Damon back into space for 'The Martian'
- 9 years ago
A skillful combination of suspense and humor in the story of an abandoned astronaut fighting to survive on Mars is what lured actor Matt Damon and "Alien" director Ridley Scott back into space for "The Martian", the two men said on Saturday.
Based on a novel by Andy Weir, it tells the story of Mark Watney, a botanist who is left behind and presumed dead after an expedition to the red planet is forced to evacuate early because of a storm.
Scott said Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", a film that heavily influenced his early work, also helped inspire some of the look of the "The Martian".
Early reviews have been kind, with Variety calling it "an enthralling and rigorously realistic" story that could "conceivably rekindle interest in the space program and inspire a new generation of future astronauts."
Based on a novel by Andy Weir, it tells the story of Mark Watney, a botanist who is left behind and presumed dead after an expedition to the red planet is forced to evacuate early because of a storm.
Scott said Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey", a film that heavily influenced his early work, also helped inspire some of the look of the "The Martian".
Early reviews have been kind, with Variety calling it "an enthralling and rigorously realistic" story that could "conceivably rekindle interest in the space program and inspire a new generation of future astronauts."