Ridley Scott has entered negotiations to direct 20th Century Fox's The Martian starring Matt Damon, just over one month after Drew Goddard dropped out, due to his commitments to Sony's The Sinister Six.

The project is based on Andrew Weir's 2012 novel, which he self-published on Amazon. The story centers on a NASA astronaut who becomes stranded on a Martian colony. As he struggles to survive, NASA tries to mount a rescue mission back home. The story is said to be in the same vein as Cast Away and Apollo 13.

Drew Goddard wrote the adapted screenplay, with Ridley Scott producing alongside Simon Kinberg and Aditya Sood, who originally found the book this movie will be based on. No production schedule was given at this time.

Ridley Scott is currently in post-production on Exodus: Gods and Kings, which is slated for release through 20th Century Fox on December 12. The Martian will be the 77-year-old filmmaker's 21st feature film.