STX Entertainment have had a topsy-turvy summer. “Free State Of Jones” might’ve flopped, but “Bad Moms” was a smash hit. And this winter they’re pinning their hopes on the sci-fi “The Space Between Us,” moving the film from a previously scheduled summer date to later this holiday season.
Starring Asa Butterfield, the story centers on the first human born on Mars who travels to Earth for the first time to experience the wonders of our planet through fresh eyes. The actor, at one point up for the new “Spider-Man” role, isn’t really a star yet, but even the slightly underwhelming “Enders Game” from 2013 grossed $61 million domestically, which isn’t bad for an up-and-comer that mainstream audiences barely know. Here’s the official synopsis:
In this interplanetary adventure, a space shuttle embarks on the first mission to colonize Mars, only to discover after takeoff that one of the astronauts is pregnant. Shortly after landing, she dies from complications while giving birth to the first human born on the red planet – never revealing who the father is. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Gardner Elliot – an inquisitive, highly intelligent boy who reaches the age of 16 having only met 14 people in his very unconventional upbringing.
While searching for clues about his father, and the home planet he’s never known, Gardner begins an online friendship with a street smart girl in Colorado named Tulsa. When he finally gets a chance to go to Earth, he’s eager to experience all of the wonders he could only read about on Mars – from the most simple to the extraordinary. But once his explorations begin, scientists discover that Gardner’s organs can’t withstand Earth’s atmosphere.
Eager to find his father, Gardner escapes the team of scientists and joins with Tulsa on a race against time to unravel the mysteries of how he came to be, and where he belongs in the universe.
Co-starring Gary Oldman, Carla Gugino, and Britt Robertson, “The Space Between Us”arrives on December 21st.
