Andy Weir Thinks These Sci-Fi Flops Almost Stopped The Martian Movie From Getting Made – SlashFilm

Audiences hate Mars, it appears. 

Again in 1996, Tim Burton’s chaotic sci-fi/comedy “Mars Assaults!” was panned by critics and did not do very properly on the field workplace, making solely about $101 million on a $100 million price range. 

In 2000, there was a one-two punch of Martian flops within the type of Anthony Hoffman’s “Crimson Planet” and Brian De Palma’s “Mission to Mars.” Each of these movies had been large productions, and every one befell partially on the fourth rock from the solar. The former was a noticeable bomb, making a mere $33.5 million on an $80 million price range. The latter, based mostly on a trip at Disneyland, made $111 million on a $100 million price range. Hollywood took three sizeable gambles on the planet Mars, and audiences stayed away. 

In fact, who might neglect the notorious stinkers “Mars Wants Mothers” and “John Carter” from 2011 and 2012, respectively? Each movies had been additionally set totally on Mars, and they’re among the many largest bombs in Disney historical past. In accordance with a retrospective within the Wrap, “John Carter” was initially going to be known as “John Carter of Mars,” however Disney modified the title after so a lot of their Mars films tanked. It did not assist.

In an interview with Lightspeed Journal, creator Andy Weir, author of the hit novel “The Martian,” expressed some comprehensible trepidation. His novel was tailored by Ridley Scott right into a function movie in 2015, additionally titled “The Martian.” Eek. Weir was properly conscious of the Hollywood taboo surrounding Mars films, and he recalled his concern that “The Martian” may not be made due to the planet Mars’ dangerous B.O. observe file. Fortunately, “The Martian” bucked the pattern. It made $630 million on the field workplace and was nominated for seven Oscars. 

To catch you up, “Crimson Planet” starred Val Kilmer as an engineer on a mission to Mars within the close to future. For 20 years, astronauts have been terraforming Mars, however one thing goes awry. On the mission, he and his fellow astronauts (Tom Sizemore, Carrie-Anne Moss, Benjamin Bratt) uncover that Mars has a breathable environment, but additionally that their helper robotic, AMEE, has gone haywire and began attacking folks. “Mission to Mars,” in the meantime, starred Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins, Connie Nielsen, and Don Cheadle. It is about astronauts who go to Mars and discover benevolent aliens. It is actually, actually boring. 

Andy Weir had seen each of those films and was properly conscious of how badly they did on the field workplace. He needed to cite a film from 1990 to search out the final occasion of a Mars-set film being successful. Weir stated: 

“Once you discuss Mars films, there’s what they name ‘The Mars Curse’ within the film trade; that was truly one thing that was going to, doubtlessly, be an issue in getting ‘The Martian’ greenlighted. The final vital industrial success that befell on Mars was ‘Whole Recall’ with Arnold Schwarzenegger. I may be fallacious; there could also be one thing within the center there. And it is also that some issues folks do not like had been additionally industrial successes. I truly appreciated ‘Mission to Mars,’ with Gary Sinise. Did not just like the one with Val Kilmer as a lot.”  

Weir was proper. There isn’t any Mars-set film between “Whole Recall” and “The Martian” that was a giant hit. 1997’s comedy “RocketMan” did not transfer the needle, and John Carpenter’s 2001 flick “Ghosts of Mars” wasn’t precisely properly-appreciated, “Doom” bombed, and the Flaming Lips film “Christmas on Mars” was seen by about 50 folks.

Andy Weir was diplomatic, although. Though Martian films did not do properly total, there was no purpose, in his thoughts, why they should not. He famous that the assorted Mars films, even going again to an excellent cult traditional from 1964, are all completely different and have a tendency to bomb for various causes. The planet Mars just isn’t the wrongdoer. Weir famous:

“I feel Mars is a giant subject. ‘The Martian,’ ‘John Carter,’ ‘Mars Wants Mothers,’ and ‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’ all befell on Mars, however these films usually are not, in any manner, related. I feel evaluating films that happen on Mars just isn’t that productive. It is like saying ‘Cloverfield’ befell in New York Metropolis and so does the TV present ‘Mates’; let’s evaluate them.” 

Though, to be honest, there are fewer folks dwelling on Mars than in New York Metropolis (so far as we all know). 

It ought to be famous that Ridley Scott’s “The Martian” has the look, texture, and scientific data to really feel genuine. When Matt Damon will get stranded on Mars, his survival methods appear believable. Each Weir and the Lightspeed Journal interviewer famous that “Crimson Planet” was dangerous as a result of the astronauts did not behave like astronauts. They yelled at, punched, and killed each other. Weir famous that actual astronauts do not get into screaming matches like within the films, as a result of they need to work as a group to outlive in house. Weir stated that astronauts are psychologically vetted and would not be moving into motion-packed fights in the event that they had been in house. Combating is a film factor. 

And perhaps that is the lesson right here. If you wish to set a film on Mars, do not do motion film issues. Do astronaut issues as an alternative. Your film simply may be higher.