The Martian Release Date, Plot Spoilers; ISS Astronauts Gives Matt Damon Movie Thumps Up

By Komfie Manalo
Matt Damon in
Coming October 2nd, 2015. 20th Century Fox

Matt Damon's latest starrer, the sci-fi movie The Martian, a movie about a NASA astronaut trapped in Mars after being presumed by his crew, was given the thumps up by no other than astronauts assigned at the International Space Station (ISS).

The crews at the ISS were given a special screening of The Martian after the studio, the 20th Century Fox, asked the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to allow them to give a special screening of the movie in space.

And the astronauts were just as happy with the movie and gave the Ridley Scott film a thumps up. Astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Scott Kelly posted tweets a post official Twitter accounts expressing their appreciation on seeing the movie in space.

"Movie night! What a treat to watch #TheMartian while in space and see reflections of our own #JourneyToMars!" Lindgren wrote on Twitter.

The Martian is not the first movie to have a special screening in space. Sandra Bullock's Oscar-winning movie Gravity was also shown to ISS astronauts, reported NZ Herald.

IMDB released the synopsis of the movie, "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."

The Martian follows the story and struggles of astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) who was stranded on Mars following a botched operation following a powerful windstorm and was believed to have been dead.

However, Watney was able to contact Earth to inform NASA he is still alive. NASA then organized a rescue operation to get him back to Earth. The Martian also stars Michael Peña, Sebastian Stan, Donald Glover, Mackenzie Davis, Sean Bean, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, and Jessica Chastain.

In addition to the astronaut cast, there is also Jeff Daniels, who looks to be playing the man on Earth, and is reporting the condition of their lost astronaut.  Donald Glover, best known for his work on the show Community, is also involved, as well as Chiwetel Ejiofor, who has played many roles in many different films.  Sean Bean is involved, and he is usually an actor who is known to die in his given roles.  It is interesting to see Kristen Wiig, who is better known for her stint on Saturday Night Live, play a dramatic role.

At first look, the story of The Martian might resemble a 2000 movie known as Red Planet staring Val Kilmer as an astronaut who has to use his wit and ingenuity to survive on Mars.  It may have inspired the book that The Martian is based on, which was published in 2012 by Andy Weir.  Originally, Weir self-published a chapter at a time, and the e-book became a best-seller and Weir sold the novel to audiobook and print publishers.

Directed by Scott, The Martian is slated to premiere in theaters in the United States on Oct. 2, 2015.

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