'The Martian': The movie adaptation gains cast members
More actors have joined an already star-studded cast for the movie adaptation of Andy Weir鈥檚 sci-fi novel 鈥淭he Martian.鈥�
According to , actor Chiwetel Ejiofor has joined an ensemble that includes Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, and Jessica Chastain. The movie is being directed by Ridley Scott of the upcoming movie 鈥淓xodus: Gods and Kings,鈥� who was also behind such classic science fiction films as 鈥淏lade Runner鈥� and 鈥淎lien.鈥�
鈥淭he Martian鈥� tells the story of astronaut Mark Watney (a role which Damon will take on, according to the website IndieWire), who finds he has become stranded on Mars after the other people on his mission left, believing he was dead. He must draw on limited resources to survive.聽
The novel was originally self-published by Weir in 2012 before it was released by Crown Publishing in February.
In reviews for the book, wrote that 鈥淲eir displays a virtuosic ability to write about highly technical situations without leaving readers far behind. The result is a story that is as plausible as it is compelling鈥� sharp, funny and thrilling,鈥� and found the book to be an 鈥渆xcellent first novel鈥� Watney鈥檚 solutions to food and life support problems are plausible, and Weir laces the technical details with enough keen wit to satisfy hard science fiction fan and general reader alike鈥� Weir uses Watney鈥檚 proactive nature and determination to survive to keep the story escalating to a riveting conclusion.鈥�
Weir told industry newsletter that he was inspired by another space movie when writing 鈥淢artian.鈥澛�
鈥淚 wanted to recapture the thrill I got when I watched聽Apollo 13,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t's like MacGyver in space, with billions of dollars of equipment being misappropriated to barely stay alive, and everybody working together, and I just love that.鈥澛�
According to Deadline, 鈥淢artian鈥� will be released in November 2015.
