Alex Carter
Get ready for an out-of-this-world sci-fi thriller! But before we dive in, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the incredible talent behind it. This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and without the hard work and dedication of the writers and actors currently on strike, the film we’re about to discuss wouldn’t even exist.
Now, let’s talk about the exciting news. There’s a new movie in the works, titled The Astronaut, and it’s set to start shooting in Ireland this October thanks to an interim agreement with the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA. But that’s not all, we also have some casting announcements!
According to Deadline, the talented Kate Mara (House of Cards, Black Mirror, The Martian) and Gabriel Luna (Terminator: Dark Fate, The Last of Us, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) will be joining Laurence Fishburne in The Astronaut.
So, what’s the movie all about? Here’s the thrilling synopsis, as described by Deadline:
Astronaut Sam Walker (Mara) returns from her first space mission. She’s found miraculously alive in a punctured capsule floating deep off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Expecting to be reunited with her husband (Luna), she finds herself placed under intense NASA surveillance in a high-security house for rehabilitation and medical testing under the control of General William Harris (Fishburne). However, when disturbing occurrences begin happening around the property, she fears that something extraterrestrial has followed her back to Earth.
Exciting stuff, right? Well, it gets even better. This film marks the solo writing and directorial debut of Jess Varley, and it’s being produced by the talented team of Brad Fuller (A Quiet Place, A Quiet Place Part II, The Purge), Cameron Fuller, Eric B. Fleischman (Sleight), and Chris Abernathy (Barbarian).
Let’s not forget about the incredible cast. Kate Mara received an Emmy nomination for her role as a fearless journalist in House of Cards and recently appeared in an episode of Black Mirror alongside Aaron Paul and Josh Hartnett. She also portrayed Sue Storm in 2015’s Fantastic Four.
As for Gabriel Luna, you may recognize him from his role in Terminator: Dark Fate or as Tommy, the brother of Pedro Pascal’s character in The Last of Us. He also brought Ghost Rider to life in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
And of course, we can’t forget about Laurence Fishburne, known for his unforgettable performances in the original Matrix movies and the thrilling John Wick films.
Now, here’s the exciting part. Despite the ongoing actor’s strike, The Astronaut has received an exception, allowing it to move forward. This exception is offered to independent films outside of the major studios who have already agreed to SAG-AFTRA’s terms. So, we’re lucky to have this thrilling sci-fi thriller on the horizon. Unfortunately, we don’t have any news yet on when it will premiere, but we’ll be eagerly waiting!
