Without wanting to make you feel old, Asa Butterfield is now 19 years of age, and in his latest endeavour, the sci-fi-rom-com The Space Between Us, he even indulges in an intimate, romantic narrative – and we discussed with the teenage actor about this new genre he’s now old enough to explore, when meeting him in London to mark the release of his latest production.
The film tells the story of a 16-year-old who is raised on Mars, secretly, before heading down to Earth for the very first time, where he meets up with Britt Robertson’s Tulsa. We asked the British actor where he’d want to visit first if coming to Earth for the first time, and what he loves most about our planet.
He also discusses with us what it’s like shooting in zero gravity, why he’d like to go to space in real life, and the important in choosing such different projects in his career. He then explained why this has never been a dream job for him, and his experiences working with Martin Scorsese in Hugo, and how that changed his perspective.
Synopsis
In this interplanetary adventure, shortly after arriving to help colonize Mars, an astronaut dies while giving birth to the first human born on the red planet. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Gardner Elliot – an inquisitive, highly intelligent boy who reaches the age of 16 having only met 14 people in his very unconventional upbringing. While searching for clues about his father, and the home planet he’s never known, Gardner begins an online friendship with a street smart girl named Tulsa. When he finally gets a chance to go to Earth, Gardner is eager to experience all of the wonders he could only read about on Mars. But after his explorations begin, scientists discover that Gardner’s organs can’t withstand Earth’s atmosphere. Gardner joins with Tulsa on a race against time to unravel the mysteries of how he came to be, and where he belongs in the universe.
The Space Between Us is released on February 10th
