Brendan Fraser Heads to Mars in Explosive New Sci-Fi Thriller Starman
Hollywood’s favorite comeback king is storming into a whole new frontier. Oscar winner Brendan Fraser will front the cosmic sci-fi thriller Starman, written and directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Josh Wakely, based on his original script. The news has sparked a wave of enthusiasm in the film business, consolidating Fraser’s extraordinary comeback as one of Hollywood’s most bankable leading men.
The Plot: Love, Survival, and the Red Planet
In Starman, Fraser will play visionary technologist Tom Adams, “an architect of the future,” on a historic mission to Mars that sees him leading mankind into its next great frontier. But when unanticipated events maroon him millions of miles from Earth, his goal becomes an unexpected and urgent race against time, motivated not by survival alone, but by love.
The film’s story is about solitude, endurance, and human connection against the stunning scenery of deep space travel. Think The Martian meets Interstellar, a riveting mix of high-stakes survival drama and intensely emotional human narrative.
Significantly, this is not a remake of the 1984 John Carpenter sci-fi romance of the same name – Starman is a totally unique plot.
A Star-Studded Production Team
And the skill behind the camera is outstanding. Executive producers include David S. Goyer, who wrote Batman Begins and Batman v. Superman, and filming is expected to begin this summer.
The feature is produced by Grace: A Storytelling Company, in association with Sight Unseen’s Eddie Vaisman, who most recently produced Fraser’s Searchlight film Rental Family, together with Grace’s Wakely and Rebecca Graham. Sight Unseen’s Ryan Graves, Julia Lebedev, and Tarek Sherif are also executive producers.
Anton will commence sales for the project at the Marché du Film de Cannes, where additional exclusive facts about the film will be revealed.
Fraser’s Remarkable Career Comeback
Fraser’s career has been revitalized following his Oscar win for The Whale (2022) with a spate of high-profile appearances, including Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) and the lauded Rental Family (2025).
For the actor, Starman also represents a big return to a genre. The film is Brendan Fraser’s sci-fi comeback after nearly 20 years, since Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008).
A Packed Slate Ahead
Fraser’s agenda is packed with big tasks. Later this month, he plays President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the movie Pressure, opening in theaters May 29, 2026. He’ll also co-star with Dustin Hoffman and Bill Murray in Diamond, directed by Andy Garcia and due for a global debut at Cannes.
Fraser is also reprising his legendary role in the forthcoming fourth edition of the $1.4 billion grossing The Mummy movie, reuniting with Rachel Weisz. The Mummy 4 is set to release on May 19, 2028.
Starman plays a different character than his famed adventure-hero part in The Mummy franchise, further proving his incredible flexibility as an actor.
A Director Making His Debut Feature
Starman is the feature film debut of Josh Wakely. Wakely created the Netflix animated programs Beat Bugs and Motown Magic. His experience writing poignant, character-driven storylines in animation implies the film will balance emotional depth with exhilarating survival aspects.
What to Expect
With a major Oscar-winning star at the helm, a powerhouse production team, a deeply human story set against the vastness of space, and a high-concept premise that taps into the world’s current fascination with Mars exploration, Starman is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about original sci-fi films in years. The official release date hasn’t been revealed yet, but if production starts this summer, then moviegoers could expect to see it in theaters in 2027.
