Cate Blanchett was the original Commander Lewis choice before a scheduling conflict led to Jessica Chastain; Drew Goddard’s directing path was recalled.
In the discussion (2)
- Blanchett was the original choice for Commander Lewis.
- The hosts liked Chastain in the finished role.
Carrie Washington or Kate Winslet for Kristen Wiig, and Ed Harris as Teddy, were the strongest proposals; other possibilities were debated.
In the discussion (7)
- Kerry Washington was proposed for the public-relations role.
- Kate Winslet’s Steve Jobs performance made her another proposal for the PR role.
- Kate Winslet was also proposed as Commander Lewis.
- Tom Hanks was proposed for Teddy.
- Jeff Bridges was proposed for Teddy.
- Tommy Lee Jones was proposed for Teddy.
- Ed Harris was proposed as the best Teddy replacement because he supplied the desired Pat Riley quality.
Research covered Jordan/Hungary locations, NASA assistance, Damon’s five-week solo shoot, staged potato growth, and the 2035 setting.
In the discussion (6)
- The Mars exteriors were filmed in Jordan.
- Soundstage work was filmed in Hungary.
- NASA assisted with science and technology.
- Damon filmed his solo material for five weeks.
- The production maintained real potatoes at multiple growth stages.
- Andy Weir placed the story in 2035.
Toxic Martian soil, impossible storm force, Watney’s weight loss, the hard-to-follow gravity-assist plan, and surprisingly effective tarp/duct tape were questioned.
In the discussion (5)
- Later findings that Martian soil is toxic undermine the potato premise.
- Andy Weir acknowledged that Mars’s thin atmosphere makes the opening storm physically impossible.
- A body double supplied Watney’s extreme emaciation.
- The gravity-assist plan remained hard to follow and seemed oddly undiscovered by everyone else.
- Tarp and duct tape seemed implausibly sufficient for Mars and space.
Questions covered Watney’s missing family, post-return romantic life, sexuality, character backstory, death-free sci-fi, 2035 CNN, astronaut marriages, and his exact time on Mars.
In the discussion (8)
- Where was Watney’s family?
- What romantic relationship, if any, awaited Watney after his return?
- Was Watney’s sexuality deliberately left unspecified?
- Was the absence of character backstory a flaw or a strength?
- Is this the only consequential science-fiction movie in which nobody dies?
- Would CNN still look the same in 2035?
- How often do astronaut marriages survive the demands of the work?
- Watney spent 568 sols, about 578 Earth days, on Mars.
Casting What-Ifs