Netflix’s ‘Away’: Love You to Mars and Back

Netflix is returning to space, to Mars in fact, for the new drama series, Away starring Hilary Swank. “Away is a thrilling, emotional drama on an epic scale that celebrates the incredible advancements humans can achieve and the personal sacrifices they must make along the way,” says Netflix.

Swank plays the happily married American astronaut Emma Green who is set to lead an international mission to Mars while leaving her husband (Josh Charles) and daughter (Talitha Bateman) behind on Earth. “It’s only three years” she tells her husband in the trailer. “Okay, I won’t miss you then,” he jokingly replies. Of course, space travel never quite goes to plan. However, unlike most science fictions series and movies, Away appears to be a drama set in space and based on soon-to-be reality. While it looks exciting, the 10 episode series will focus a lot on the team’s interpersonal struggles being away from their loved ones on Earth.

Along for the ride is Misha Popov (Mark Ivanir) a Russian cosmonaut who technically may be more fit for the job. At least it looks that way on paper; Ram Arya (Ray Panthaki) an Air Force pilot from India who unlike the others, doesn’t appear to have anyone to come home to; Lu Wang (Vivian Wu) a chemist from China who leads a complex life back home; and Melissa Ramirez (Monique Curnen) a former astronaut who works as Emma’s liaison to Earth.

According to Netflix, Away’s story will be told through flashbacks, real-time communications, and scenes in both space and on earth, we discover more about each astronaut’s unique situation and history, and the difficult personal challenges they’ll need to conquer in order to accomplish their vital mission.

Away is loosely inspired by an article written by Chris Jones’ in 2014 for Esquire magazine which documented astronaut Scott Kelly’s mission to space. Jones is also a writer/producer on the series. In addition, Mike Massimino, a NASA astronaut, is serving as a consultant on the series helping to ensure that the series feels authentic.