Captain William Stanaforth (Strong) is on a one-way solo mission to Mars, taking humanity’s first steps towards colonizing it. Although the entire world is watching him, he is completely alone on the space ship. After liftoff and the subsequent rocket separations, Stanaforth takes his suit off to relax and is set on course to Mars by the team on the ground.
Through flashbacks we see how Stanaforth had come up with the idea to create water (H2O) by supercompressing sand/dirt and combining the separate hydrogen and oxygen byproducts. It is by this synthesis that the mission is made possible.
Stanaforth’s water generation apparatus malfunctions during his mission to Mars. Rather than return to Earth as protocol requires, he takes manual control of his spacecraft and continues to Mars. His spacecraft becomes entangled with a nebula and through voiceover we hear Stanaforth ruminate on the nature of matter and space. Stanaforth says, “This is why I came here. To give everything up. For one moment of pure wonder.” Stanaforth is then seen in his spacesuit, exiting the spacecraft.
Approaching the Unknown is a science fiction drama film written and directed by Mark Elijah Rosenberg, making his directorial debut. It stars Mark Strong in the lead role of Captain William Stanaforth, the first person on a lone mission to Mars. Luke Wilson and Sanaa Lathan also feature in supporting roles. It’s scheduled for release June 3, 2016.
Approaching the Unknown
Directed by: Mark Elijah Rosenberg
Starring: Mark Strong, Luke Wilson, Sanaa Lathan, Charles Baker, Anders Danielsen Lie, Bettina Skye, Harry L. Seddon, Lora Lee Ecobelli
Screenplay by: Mark Elijah Rosenberg
Production Design by: Steven Brower
Cinematography by: Adam Newport-Berra
Film Editing by: David Barker, Darrin Navarro, Marc Vives
Costume Design by: Anney Perrine
Set Decoration by: Tara Pavoni
Art Direction by: Paul Rice, Danielle Webb
Music by: Paul Damian Hogan
MPAA Rating: R for language.
Studio: TideRock Media, 3311 Productions
Release Date: June 3, 2016
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