In an alternate universe, this actress played a MAJOR role in ‘The Martian’

Between Interstellar and The Martian, Jessica Chastain has cornered the modern “woman in space” market, but according to Martian director Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator), casting on the latter could have gone in a very different direction.

Speaking with reporters in Sydney, Australia, the director revealed that he first attempted to recruit Academy Award-winning Australian actress Cate Blanchett for Chastain’s role as Captain Melissa Lewis.

“She couldn’t do it. She was going to be the captain, Jessica (Chastain) doesn’t know that,” he told reporters. “[Blanchett] couldn’t fit it in.”

It’s no surprise that Blanchett wasn’t available. The in-demand actress is currently starring in a pair of Oscar-worthy films: Todd Haynes’ Carol and journalistic drama, Truth. As for unreleased titles, she just finished collaborating on an as-yet-unnamed project with director Terrence Malick and will voice the villainous snake, Kaa, in a 2017 live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book (not to be confused with next year’s Disney adaptation).

Meanwhile, Jessica Chastain, a self-professed admirer of Blanchett, will appear in the sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman alongside Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth and is filming for her lead role in upcoming World War II drama The Zookeeper’s Wife.

In other words, there are plenty of good roles to go around and we hope that eventually that fact will bring these two amazing actresses together. After all, it’s just a matter of good timing. 

(Image via Twentieth Century Fox)