When a movie hinges on an impossible geographical divide, the actors have to bridge that gap long before the cameras roll. The 2017 science-fiction romance The Space Between Us explores the journey of Gardner Elliot, the first human born on Mars, who travels to Earth and falls for a street-smart Colorado teen named Tulsa. Bringing this high-concept, star-crossed narrative to life required a careful balance of veteran gravity and youthful earnestness.
The core ensemble, led by Asa Butterfield and Britt Robertson alongside seasoned heavyweights Gary Oldman and Carla Gugino, shaped a unique dynamic. Behind the scenes, the creative choices made by director Peter Chelsom and writer Allan Loeb relied entirely on how these actors grounded a far-fetched premise in authentic human emotion. Let's look at how the chemistry and choices of this ensemble built the heartbeat of the film.
Asa Butterfield as Gardner Elliot: Playing Martian Naivety
Asa Butterfield took on the role of Gardner Elliot, a sixteen-year-old raised in a sealed Martian colony among scientists rather than peers. Butterfield had to portray a character who possessed vast intellectual knowledge of the universe yet zero practical understanding of human social cues, wind, rain, or grocery stores.
Physicality and Wonder
To show Gardner's Martian upbringing, Butterfield adjusted his physical performance. He moved with a distinct lightness, reflecting lower gravity, and kept his eyes wide with genuine curiosity when encountering basic Earth elements. This wasn't just about reading lines; it required physical restraint to convince viewers that every sensation—from hot pavement to loud traffic—was entirely foreign.
Balancing Innocence and Urgency
Gardner's motivation is straightforward: he wants to find his unknown father and experience the planet his mother called home. Butterfield kept the character from drifting into pure caricature by anchoring his performance in a desperate need for belonging. His chemistry with the rest of the cast works because he plays Gardner not as an alien visitor, but as a sheltered teenager experiencing adolescent longing for the very first time.
Britt Robertson as Tulsa: Grounding the Interplanetary Romance
Britt Robertson played Tulsa, a cynical, independent foster kid in Colorado who has learned to rely only on herself. If Butterfield brought wide-eyed wonder, Robertson brought grit.
The Dynamic of the Reluctant Guide
Tulsa spends a large portion of the narrative playing reluctant chaperone to a boy who claims he is from Mars. Robertson had to sell a difficult transition: moving from disbelief and annoyance to protective loyalty. Her performance relied on sharp comedic timing and defensive body language that slowly softened as she realized Gardner's vulnerability was entirely real.
Chemistry on the Road Trip
The middle act of the film turns into a cross-country road trip. Robertson and Butterfield established a natural conversational rhythm that kept the more melodramatic plot points grounded. Tulsa functions as a surrogate parent and anchor for Gardner, teaching him about human cynicism while he reminds her how to hope. Their on-screen partnership drove the emotional stakes of a script that could have easily slipped into melodrama.
Supporting Heavyweights: Gary Oldman and Carla Gugino
While the romance anchors the plot, the adult supporting cast provides the institutional and emotional guardrails that make the adventure possible.
Gary Oldman as Nathaniel Shepherd
Gary Oldman played billionaire visionary Nathaniel Shepherd, the flawed architect of the Mars colony whose public relations nightmare turns into a personal crusade to save Gardner. Oldman brought a brooding, regret-filled intensity to a character haunted by the consequences of his own ambition. His scenes required him to convey immense guilt without losing the visionary drive that built his corporate empire.
Carla Gugino as Kendra Wyndham
Carla Gugino portrayed astronaut Kendra Wyndham, who acts as a surrogate mother and protector to Gardner on Mars before risking her career to help him on Earth. Gugino balanced professional authority with maternal warmth. Her chemistry with Butterfield provided the emotional warmth that made Gardner's isolation on Mars feel palpable from the opening scenes.
Directorial Vision and Behind-the-Scenes Challenges
Director Peter Chelsom focused heavily on practical locations and natural lighting during the Earth sequences to contrast with the sterile, blue-tinted environment of the Martian habitat. This stylistic choice directly influenced how the actors interacted with their surroundings.
Location Shooting vs. Soundstages
The production utilized real landscapes across New Mexico and Utah to stand in for Mars, while the Earth sequences were filmed on location in various parts of-the-west United States. This gave the cast actual dust, heat, and open spaces to react to, enhancing the realism of Gardner's first days exposed to Earth's atmosphere and gravity.
Rehearsal and Character Workshops
Before filming began, Chelsom ran workshops to help Butterfield and Robertson build a shorthand dialogue style. Because Tulsa talks fast and thinks defensively, while Gardner speaks with deliberate precision, finding that vocal contrast took careful rehearsal. The actors worked on pacing so their dialogue exchanges felt organic rather than scripted.
Common Criticisms and Where the Production Stumbled
Even with a dedicated cast, the film faced heavy criticism upon its theatrical release. Understanding these missteps offers a clearer picture of how creative choices affect audience reception.
- Scientific Plausibility: Reviewers frequently pointed out that the biological effects of growing up in Martian gravity would make traveling to Earth immediately fatal or physically impossible in the ways depicted. The creative team prioritized romantic tone over medical accuracy, which alienated hard sci-fi fans.
- Pacing Shifts: The narrative shifts abruptly from a quiet sci-fi drama on Mars to a fast-paced, sometimes implausible teen road movie, making it difficult for some viewers to adjust to the tonal gear changes.
- Underutilized Supporting Talent: Actors like BD Wong and Gary Oldman occasionally found themselves sidelined by a script that prioritized the teenage road-trip romance over corporate conspiracy logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Mars actually filmed on location?
No. The scenes set on Mars were primarily filmed using structured soundstages and controlled lighting setups in New Mexico, supplemented by red-rock desert landscapes in the American Southwest to simulate the terrain.
How old were the lead actors when filming took place?
Production took place in late 2015. Asa Butterfield was eighteen years old during filming, while Britt Robertson was twenty-five, playing a high-school-aged character navigating the foster care system.
Did the film receive any major awards nominations?
Yes. The movie and its lead actors earned nominations at the Teen Choice Awards, including nods for Choice Movie: Sci-Fi, Choice Sci-Fi Actor for Asa Butterfield, and Choice Sci-Fi Actress for Britt Robertson.
Where can audiences stream the movie today?
Streaming availability changes frequently depending on regional licensing agreements, but the film is typically available to rent or purchase digitally through major platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
