Ars talks with Matt Damon on being astronaut Mark Watney in The Martian

To get this out of the way right up front: we’re excited about the upcoming October release of Ridley Scott’s The Martian. Based on The New York Times Best Seller novel of the same name by first-time author Andy Weir, the story follows astronaut Mark Watney as he attempts to survive being left alone on Mars after a freak accident. The book has become a favorite here in the Ars Orbiting HQ—its mix of accurate science, humor, and solid storytelling has resonated with a large audience, and based on the trailers, the movie might just manage to be that most rare of things: a book-to-film adaptation that manages to be as good as the source.

Matt Damon was chosen to play Mark Watney, putting him in somewhat the same type of situation as Tom Hanks had to play in 2000’s Cast Away: a person who is utterly, completely alone. Some of the book’s fans expressed trepidation at Damon slipping on Watney’s spacesuit on the big screen, but author Andy Weir was thrilled at the idea when Ars interviewed Weir last November. "A lot of people forget how good an actor Matt Damon is!" explained Weir. "Remember, he can do 'smartass' really well, as we saw in Good Will Hunting!…and I can see him in my mind, saying smart-ass things, kind of with that crooked smile, you know?"

No man is an island

Although we haven’t seen the film yet (though we’re on the press screening list!), we had the opportunity to talk with Matt Damon earlier this week about how he handled the role and what he thought about Mark Watney and life on Mars.