According to Deadline, the two-time Emmy winner has joined Brendan Fraser in “Starman,” an upcoming sci-fi thriller written and directed by Josh Wakely. The film centers on a groundbreaking mission to Mars that takes an unexpected turn, placing Fraser’s character in a desperate fight against time far from Earth. Production is expected to begin later this summer.
Jeff Daniels and Brendan Fraser Set Course for ‘Starman’
Daniels will play Ed Watkins, a powerful executive who helped build a transformative company alongside Tom Adams, a visionary technologist portrayed by Fraser. While the two men are connected through their ambitious work, their relationship is described as far more personal than a standard business partnership.
The project was first announced with Fraser attached as the lead. His character is introduced as a forward-thinking innovator who launches a historic expedition to Mars. What begins as a landmark achievement for humanity soon becomes something far more urgent when unexpected circumstances leave him stranded millions of miles from home.
The premise has drawn attention for combining the large scale spectacle of a Mars mission with a deeply personal narrative. That blend of science fiction and human drama has already led many observers to compare the project to films such as “The Martian.”
The casting also brings together two actors who are experiencing particularly active periods in their careers. Daniels recently joined the fifth season of “The Morning Show” and is set to portray President Ronald Reagan in the historical drama “The Brink of War” Outside of screen work, he continues to oversee Michigan’s Purple Rose Theatre Company while performing music and producing his memoir-style audio series “Alive and Well Enough.”
For Fraser, “Starman” marks another high-profile addition to a career resurgence that gained momentum following his Academy Award-winning performance in “The Whale.” The actor has remained busy with projects including “Rental Family” and “Pressure,” while also preparing for a return to one of his most beloved roles in a new “The Mummy” sequel.
With Daniels now aboard, “Starman” adds another notable name to a film that is positioning itself as one of the more intriguing science fiction projects on the horizon.