Ridley Scott might be involved in post-production for Exodus: Gods And Kings, but that isn’t stopping him from taking things up a gear or two on The Martian. In the last month we’ve had numerous casting rumours circulating, and the latest from Variety hints that End Of Watch star Michael Pena is in early talks for a part.
There’s no further details on what role the actor, who’ll next be seen in David Ayer’s World War II actioner Fury, might indeed play. Apparently this will depend on a number of factors though, as “sources say negotiations are in early stages and Pena’s involvement will depend on his busy schedule, but the star is interested in the role.”
From a script by Cloverfield/Cabin In The Woods scribe Drew Goddard, and under the direction of Scott – it’s shaping up to be a prospect that any actor would be chomping at the bit to star in. Based on the novel by Andy Weir, the story follows Mark Watney – played by Matt Damon – the first man to walk on Mars, who winds up alone on the red planet when his mission goes awry.
The Martian opens November 25th, 2015. For a deeper look into the premise, check out Amazon’s synopsis of the novel:
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.
Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.
After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.
Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.
But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?