It appears that Matt Damon went through a bodily transformation while makingThe Martian. Known for directing some of the most iconic movies of all time, such asAlien,Gladiator, andBlade Runner, Ridley Scott took a lighter approach to the sci-fi genre withThe Martian. The film can make audiences laugh and cry thanks to Damon’s arguably career-best performance. AlthoughThe Martianmade a big splash at the 88th Academy Awards held in February 2016, it could not take home any Oscars, including Best Actor for Damon, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture.
Still,The Martianwas the10th highest-grossing film of 2015 with a worldwide box office total of $630 million. While the beloved actor, screenwriter, and producer is celebrated to this day for his action roles and hisBoston-themed movies, Damon’s career made a strong pivot in2013 with the release ofElysium, which introduced Damon to the sci-fi blockbuster. Damon then went on to have a surprise cameo as an astronaut in Christopher Nolan’scelebrated intergalactic filmInterstellarbefore starring in Ridley Scott’sThe Martian, which was a critical hit, earninga Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 91%.
Out of his entire filmography, only Ridley Scott’sAlienhas a higher Rotten Tomatoes critic score thanThe Martian.
Where The Martian Was Filmed: Which Locations Were Used For Mars & How
The Martian tells the story of a man stuck on Mars, but Ridley Scott needed to utilize multiple sets to cover the movie’s different storylines.
Matt Damon Did Not Lose Weight For The Martian
Scott used a body double for later scenes in the film
Scott was not interested in prolonging or altering the filming schedule ofThe Martianto allow time for Damon to lose a convincing amount of weight, choosing the shorter route by using a body double.
While parts ofThe Martianconvince viewers to believe that Damon lost a considerable amount of weight for the role of Mark Watney, Damon ultimately did not have to go through any type of major body transformation for the 2015 blockbuster.Damon had offered to make that commitment for the role but Scott decided against it, mostly because it would complicate the production and filming schedule. In an interview withNewsweek, “I talked to Ridley about it because I’ve lost weight before for movies. We had about six months. And I said, “That’s perfect. I’ll lose about 30 or 40 pounds, and we’ve got to shoot all that stuff first.” And he went, “F–k that.”
Damon also elaborated on the choice in an interview withMaclean’sin 2015. “Well, we were going to shoot it like that, like the way they shot ‘Cast Away.’ I was going to lose a bunch of weight in the third act of the movie, then put the weight back on. But with the way the schedule worked out, we went to Budapest, and then we went to Jordan to shoot exteriors. And we had to shoot exteriors for the beginning, middle and end of the movie. So we used a body double. It was, like, two shots.” Ultimately, it seems likeScott was not interested in prolonging or altering the filming schedule ofThe Martianto allow time for Damon to lose a convincing amount of weight, choosing the shorter route by using a body double.
How Long Mark Watney Was On Mars In The Martian
Here’s how much time Mark Watney, Matt Damon’s character in The Martian (2015), spent on Mars, and why it took so long for him to be rescued.
Did Matt Damon Grow A Beard For The Martian?
Damon’s beard was likely added in post-production
While there was some speculation and even online outcry about Damon’s unkept beard inThe Martian, it appears that it was also the result of movie magic as well. Damon told Newsweek, “I have these hair extensions in. I look like I should be playing in a rock band.” While it’s unclear whether the beard was a part of Damon’s cosmetic hair transformation created byThe Martian’shair and makeup department, the common consensus is thatDamon’s beard was actually added by CGI in post-production. Considering that Scott did not ask Damon to go through an extensive weight-loss procedure forThe Martian, he likely didn’t ask him to grow out a beard either.
Watney had access to his electric razor throughout his extended stay on Mars, which raises the question of why he chose to let out his wild side and grow out his beard without grooming it. The creative choice for his character aligns with where Watney is psychologically and is an easy visual to inform audiences of the time that has passed since the beginning of the story. With Watney not having a human connection for months going on years, he eventually starts to disregard his social norms such as shaving. What’s the point of appearing presentable when there’s no one else to see you?The beard reveals both the passage of time and the psychological state of Watney.
The Hilarious Trick That Helped The Martian Maintain Scientific Accuracy Explained By Writer (& Whether It Worked)
The Martian’s writer used a hilarious but effective trick to ensure scientific accuracy, but despite his best efforts, the film might have one issue.
How Matt Damon Trained For His Astronaut Role In The Martian
Damon felt no need to go above and beyond to play Watney
It turns out Damon didn’t really “science the s–t” out of his research process forThe Martian. He didn’t get any advanced training from scientists or astronauts to prepare for the film, telling Newsweek, “By the time you get to my part, it’s a Robinson Crusoe survival story. The only time I’m in space is the very end.”
When asked if he received any specialized training to adjust to space culture, Damon replied, “We have a technical advisor, but it’s all really in the book and the screenplay. We don’t actually have to survive on Mars. We’re there for a little while, and then we go out for coffee and come back.” It seems that Damon stayed firmly grounded on Earth throughout the production ofThe Martianand didn’t get carried away doing more than what was necessary for the role.
The Martian Extended Edition: All 11 Added Scenes & When They Play
11 scenes make up The Martian extended edition, and each one either provides a new sequence or expands on events from the Matt Damon film.
The Martian
Cast
Adapted by Ridley Scott from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, The Martian follows the plight of astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) after he finds himself stranded alone on Mars after he is falsely presumed dead during a mission. Unable to communicate with Earth and armed with little more than his scientific expertise as a botanist, Watney must find a way to survive on the barren planet until the next scheduled mission arrives.
