It’s been over 30 years since the likes of Alien and Blade Runner, but we may finally be getting our next Ridley Scott classic sci-fi film. The Martian hits theaters on October 2nd and is already gearing up to be a hit. Check out the second trailer, released today, below!
Based on the book by Andy Weir, the film tells the story of a human mission to Mars, where astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead and left behind. Having to survive long enough for his crew to launch a mission back to him, he finds himself having to rely on his own ingenuity and will.
The trailer has a surprisingly light tone for a film that is literally about a life and death scenario. Matt Damon provides endearing personality to Watney, making him an easy protagonist to root for. When he successfully grows food on Mars and proclaims “In your face, Neil Armstrong,” you can’t help but smile.
There are moments of tension, of course, like NASA deciding whether or not to launch a mission to rescue Watney (spoiler from the trailer: they don’t) but when played against Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower,” the film feels more adventurous and heroic than dark and threatening. Honestly, the former sounds refreshing and more enjoyable so I hope this trailer isn’t misleading.
Some might think this trailer gives too much away – Watney successfully contacting NASA, his crew deciding to ignore NASA and rescue him – but I think the film has a lot more going for it. Unless you’ve read the novel, we don’t actually know if Watney is rescued and there’s plenty still to discover that the trailer only hints at, like how the rescue mission actually goes and how this event impacts the world.
Plus, if you like Damon, wait until you see the rest of the cast: Jessica Chastain, Sebastian Stan, Kate Mara, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, Michael Peña, Jeff Daniels, Donald Glover, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, just to name a handful. Yeah, my jaw’s dropping too.
Based on this trailer alone, it’s easy to see why this film is one of the most anticipated of the year.
The Martian, directed by Ridley Scott, is set to premiere on October 2nd.
Are you excited for this film? What do you think of the trailer?
