Discovery of water on Mars coincides with Ridley Scott’s movie ‘The Martian’

RIDLEY Scott, the director of The Martian, knew about the existence of water on Mars two months ago. So why did NASA wait until yesterday to tell the world?

Soon to hit our screens ... Matt Damon in a scene from the film, The Martian. Picture: Aidan Monaghan/20th Century Fox via AP

DIRECTOR Ridley Scott was told about the discovery of water on Mars two months ago but he did not have time to change his new movie The Martian.

So why then did NASA wait to release the news?

The findings by officials at NASA hit headlines on Monday and The Martian is due to open worldwide on Friday.

Many are questioning if NASA waited to tell the world about the discovery so that the two would collide and drum up more publicity for each other. The Martian is certainly enjoying a lot of free press due to the news.

#TheMartian movie is set on the surface of Mars. Our @MAVEN2Mars mission studies the planet's atmosphere from orbit. https://t.co/QqQAQuALFT

So the truth about the discovery of water on Mars is.. 😂 #TheMartian @LateNightSeth pic.twitter.com/wvNP57373z

hey @NASA you expect me to believe that THE MARTIAN comes out the same week you announce WATER ON MARS and it's JUST A CO-INCIDENCE?

NASA has however denied the claims, telling Yahoo news: “No, the timing was dictated by the publication of the Nature Geoscience article, which was released today,” agency spokeswoman Laurie Cantillo said.News_Image_File: In the loop ... Director Ridley Scott knew about the discovery of water on Mars two months before it was announced. Picture: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

The British moviemaker revealed he knew about NASA’s big news two months before it was announced and was shown photographs obtained by the space agency, but he was unable to use the information to change a key plot point of his new movie.

In the film, Matt Damon plays an astronaut left to fend for himself on Mars, and his character uses special equipment to manufacture his own water.

Scott, who has already screened the film for NASA staff, admitted the agency’s latest discovery would have changed the film if it had come earlier.

He told the New York Times: “(Damon’s character) would’ve gone and dug in ... He’d have found the edge of a glacier, definitely. It would be fascinating. But then I would’ve lost a great sequence. He has to make water, and the steaming device, and put up the plastic tents, which creates the humidity, which grows the plants, which is the most basic form of irrigation. They still do it in Spain that way.”News_Rich_Media: Getting to the red planet would involve a three year trek. Meet the scientists and engineers working on the 56 million kilometre trip.