Aside from returning Matt Damon to the far reaches of space, The Martian looks like departing from Interstellar's philosophical ruminations in favour of an out-and-out astronaut-in-distress thrills (CC Apollo 13, Marooned, Gravity). Damon plays a marooned astronaut called Mark Watney and the new issue of Empire magazine is debuting a first look at him and his Mars-worn spacesuit. Based on Andy Weir’s self-published 2012 novel, The Martian sees Watney as part of a science team conducting experiments on the red planet. When a storm forces the team to evacuate, Watney is injured and presumed dead, then left behind to fend for himself. With little hope of rescue and limited resources, he uses the power of science to keep himself alive on the planet’s barren surface.
"Any survival story is fascinating,” expands Scott in Empire. “I think of it as a 21st century Robinson Crusoe.” The director, who, presumably because of permit problems on the Red Planet, doubled Jordan for Mars, also has Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig and Chiwetel Ejiofor aboard for the ride.
The Martian lands on November 27. Pick up the new issue of Empire – on sale on May 27 – for more on Scott’s latest.
{Empire Ant-Man covers}