Directed and written by Jessica Varley, The Astronaut stars Kate Mara, Laurence Fishburne, and Gabriel Luna. Presented at the 2024 Deauville American Film Festival, this sci-fi thriller will be available exclusively on Paramount+ France starting December 1, 2025.
Returning from a space mission, astronaut Sam Walker is found alive in a damaged capsule drifting off the Atlantic coast. Placed in quarantine under NASA supervision, she begins her rehabilitation in an isolated house. But strange phenomena multiply, raising fears that an unknown entity has followed her to Earth.
Confined to a high-security environment, Sam tries to understand what is haunting her. Between psychological mystery and extraterrestrial threat, The Astronaut explores the consequences of possible contact with the unknown.
The film marks Jessica Varley's feature film directorial debut. Filming took place mainly in the United States, in confined settings that heighten the tension of the story. Kate Mara, known for her roles in The Martian and Fantastic Four, plays an isolated heroine faced with the inexplicable. Laurence Fishburne, star of The Matrix and John Wick, plays the general in charge of monitoring her. Gabriel Luna, seen in The Last of Us, rounds out the cast.
With an atmosphere that borders on fantasy and psychological drama, The Astronaut is aimed at fans of space thrillers and stories of isolation. The film explores the boundary between reality and hallucination in a tense and minimalist setting.
The Astronaut
Film | 2025
On Paramount+ December 1, 2025
Science fiction, Thriller | Running time: 1h30
By Jessica Varley | Starring Kate Mara, Laurence Fishburne, Gabriel Luna
Nationality: United States
The Astronaut offers a closed-door science fiction thriller carried by understated performances and mounting tension, centered on the return of an astronaut confronted with the unknown.
To go further, check out our selection of new Paramount+ releases for December, our guide to streaming releases on all platforms, and today's selection of What to watch today on streaming.
