VIDEO: Under Armour Partners with the ARES Space Program to Prep Matt Damon for Mars in 'The Martian'

Learn more about the training it takes to go to space in a new video featurette with Matt Damon as Astronaut Mark Watney. Also see 20+ images from ‘The Martian’ world premiere.

I have to say, I’m pretty impressed with the PR campaign for The Martian! I’ve really enjoyed the recent featurettes, introducing us to the ARES Space program, the ARES 3 crew, and their mission to Mars. You can tell that there’s going to be some intense action-packed space exploration, but at the same time, the characters have a certain levity and humor that’s also refreshing.

In a new development, Under Armour announced a partnership with the Ares Space Program to provide next-generation training gear designed for the most demanding environment of all: space. In a new video, we learn more about Astronaut Mark Watney’s pre-mission training program, with highlights from the rigorous emotional, physical, and mental preparation required of the ARES 3 crew in order to prepare for their journey to Mars. Check out part of the official press release below, then watch the featurette:

Building on the success of the Ares I and Ares II missions to Mars, the Ares III will break ground again with a 31-day surface mission to examine the planet’s biological and geological history – our longest mission yet. Preparing for such a mission requires every astronaut to undertake hundreds of hours of physical training at the highest level. With that in mind, we’ve partnered with Under Armour to ensure our crew receives the best training possible…

…The brand and Ares III team will debut Watney’s pre-mission training program that consists of extensive strength and endurance workouts to help prepare him for intense G-forces, to sustain muscle mass and bone density in space, and to cope with the challenges of long-duration space flight. Since the Ares III crew must train like world-class athletes, Under Armour has made the commitment to support this history-making endeavor as it advances the future of humanity. To learn more about the training program and brand partnership, please visit: http://fox.co/LeaveYourMark

Remember, The Martian hits theaters nartion-wide on October 2. This past Friday, September 11, the world premiere was held at Roy Thomson Hall during the Toronto International Film Festival. Click on the image below to see 20+ images from the red carpet event, featuring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Sebastian Stan, Kate Mara, and more.