Andy Weir’s sci-fi book The Red Planet Survival Story quickly topped the charts upon its release in 2014, although widely loved, it was an odd choice as a high-cost movie project. Originally self-published, the novel relies extensively through the personal reflections belonging to the astronaut-botanist and technician protagonist Mark Watney detailing with great care on his strategies to stay alive once left behind upon the Martian surface through cultivating potatoes and dismantling pieces of old NASA vehicles. The book is light on dialogue and abundant with clarifications of chemical reactions.
Yet director Ridley Scott along with screenwriter Drew Goddard created an engrossing movie in The Martian, which first screened ten years prior back in early October 2015. Matt Damon excellently portrays what makes Watney such a compelling protagonist: his optimistic outlook along with technical jokes dispel the deep fear in a scenario where his odds for making it are minimal. Like the book it’s based on, the picture delivers believable futuristic fiction, packed with humor and thrills. Still, the production team was forced to introduce certain adjustments for cinema, allocating additional scenes to the NASA personnel trying to save Watney, and including heightened drama for the finale. And these alterations sacrificed of two of the best segments of Weir’s book.
A Tale Centered on Survival Math
The Martian Saga focuses on nutritional calculations. The protagonist constantly calculates his dietary needs necessary to stay alive, while NASA tries to figure out methods to supply additional provisions. When an accident destroys his cultivated potato patch and a quickly prepared interplanetary care package explodes post-takeoff, the stranded man’s last option is a save attempt by his former colleagues who accidentally left him behind.
Both versions explicitly state that this plan, which involves the Ares III team using Earth’s gravity for acceleration and back to Mars to rescue Watney, is extremely risky. Still, the author creates a stronger link regarding the perils encountered by the entire team.
The Grim Backup Strategy
The spacecraft has to retrieve its dedicated provision craft to secure sufficient nourishment and hydration for the journey to Mars and return. In case of failure, the astronauts maintain a dark backup scheme: everyone except for computer specialist the character Beth Johanssen (acted by Kate Mara) would commit suicide. Beth, chosen to be the sole survivor, because she’s the youngest and smallest, would consume her teammates to stay alive. When the Ares III does get the supplies, the relieved crew jokes about the order in which Beth would have dined on them. It’s some pretty black humor, so I understand why it was cut, but I still like the narrative tightness in making every character confront against the brutal facts of off-world life. It further shows their willingness to perish for one another, beyond just aiding Watney.
The Tense Communication Blackout
The cinematic rendition likewise excludes the nail-biting segment from The Martian choosing to dedicate extra footage toward the saving endeavor elements occurring in orbit. In the original text, the protagonist loses his capacity to contact mission control, leaving him to his own devices during the last part of the narrative. Watney must then travel toward a rover meant for a later red planet trip. That voyage is threatened by a dust storm that will prevent his vehicle’s power cells from energizing and eventually leave him stranded. The space agency detects the incoming tempest, but is unable to notify him. They are kept in tense expectation to observe whether Watney will realize what’s happening and adjust his plans, or whether all their efforts to rescue him will prove pointless.
Again, it’s not surprising this part was cut from the film. Persistent exchanges among Watney and supporting roles enhances the movie’s energy. But part of me still wishes that the directors had been slightly bolder and trusted Damon to maintain segments during his solitary struggle with nature, with the supporting cast placed mirroring the spectators’ perspective: powerlessly wishing for success.
Expecting New Cinematic Versions
Goddard is revisiting Weir’s creations with an adaptation of his 2021 novel The Hail Mary Initiative, scheduled for 2026 under the direction of filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. In the vein of The Martian, the story highlights a solitary cosmonaut employing his expertise and creativity for survival. Ryan Gosling will be filling the same role as Damon: a movie star charismatic enough to hold down lots of solo scenes while landing Weir’s idiosyncratic humor. I hope that adaptation is as good as The Martian, yet regardless, the novel is definitely worth reading to see what doesn’t survive the transition.
