Although it may look like Sony's Spider-Man franchise is tanking, the plan to spinoff a Sinister Six film forced Drew Goddard to exit his adaptation of Andy Weir's sci-fi novel, The Martian. But with his departure came word that Matt Damon was being targeted for the lead role, and that has now been confirmed along with a somewhat surprising choice to replace Goddard as director.
Ridley Scott is in talks to direct Damon in The Martian, which follows an astronaut trapped on Mars and must survive long enough for NASA to mount a rescue. It's being described as Cast Away meets Gravity which are lofty expectations to place on any film. Goddard's script remains in play, with X-men and Fantastic Four writer Simon Kinberg on board to produce.
It's unknown when 20th Century Fox expects production to begin, but assuming they want it done fast that means Scott is unlikely to direct Prometheus 2 which is due to open in 2016.We'll see what happens. Next up for Scott is his Biblical flick, Exodus: Gods and Kings, arriving this December.
