Hilary Swank blasts off to space in the official trailer for Netflix’s new Space drama, Away

Netflix has unveiled the official trailer for their upcoming Space drama series, Away. Starring Hilary Swank as an astronaut on the first mission to Mars.

Away, which is debuting September 4 on the streaming platform, is created by Andrew Hinderaker and executive-produced by Jason Katims (Parenthood, Friday Night Lights.) and show-runner, Jessica Goldberg (The Path). Matt Reeves, Hinderaker, Edward Zwick, Swank, Adam Kassan and Jeni Mulein also executive produce.

The show will mix tense outer space adventure and fraught family drama. Swank’s character, Emma Green, grapples with the decision to embark on a three-year journey that forces her to leave behind her 15-year-old daughter, Lex (Talitha Bateman) and husband, Matt (Josh Charles). Who is a NASA engineer also involved with the mission on Earth.

“Away shows that sometimes to reach for the stars, we must leave home behind”

Here’s the official synopsis. “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. As American astronaut Emma Green (Hilary Swank) prepares to lead an international crew on the first mission to Mars. However, she must reconcile her decision to leave behind her husband (Josh Charles) and teenage daughter (Talitha Bateman) when they need her the most.”

“As the crew’s journey into space intensifies, their personal dynamics and the effects of being away from their loved ones back on Earth become increasingly complex. Away shows that sometimes to reach for the stars, we must leave home behind.

Away will also star Mark Ivanir, Ato Essandoh, Ray Panthaki and Vivian Wu as the other members of the Mars mission crew. Monique Curnen will be playing a former astronaut, who gave up her career to care for her special needs child. She also helps care for Matt and Lex in Emma’s absence.

“I absolutely loved being a part of creating this story with these magnificently talented humans”

The two time Oscar winner, took to Instagram, to first share the trailer of the space drama. “Good morning everyone and happy Monday! I am SO EXCITED to be one of the first to share with you the trailer for my new show #AWAY (September 4th on @netflix.) She continued expressing how grateful she was, writing. “I absolutely loved being a part of creating this story with these magnificently talented humans. Collaborating with you all has been a dream. ????????????????. @mrjoshcharles, @markivanir, @atoessandoh, @raypanthaki, @ttbate, #VivianWu.”

The two-and-a-half minute suspenseful teaser depicts her crew’s intense journey into space. And the pain from being away from their loved ones on Earth.

“I love that this commander of the mission to Mars is a woman”

Swank also recently spoke in an interview with Deadline about the series. “I love that this commander of the mission to Mars is a woman and that’s not the drama of the story. That shows how far we’ve come towards equality. The drama was these richly, racial backgrounds. These people who are on this journey, working towards a goal together, while having this gravitational pull to Earth. These families that made it a love story,” she told.

“My character was dealing with this dream come true of this mission to Mars. Dream come true of being a mother, which was unexpected. And growing these deep relationships with these other human beings she was on this mission with. And breaking through these stereotypes.”

Swank wanted to be an Astronaut?

During a panel for the show at Netflix’s Television Critics Association summer press day last week, Swank revealed that she actually wanted to be an astronaut before she was an actress.

“Just, the whole idea of space exploration, something bigger than all of us. Looking back down at Earth and how beautiful it is and how we’re all connected and how there’s no borders. There’s no boundaries,” she said. “I don’t think I would want to go to Mars if it took three years. But the moon, a hundred percent.”

“Pretending that you’re in zero gravity, takes a lot of effort”

The Ps. I Love You star admitted that preparing for her role was “more physically challenging than I actually had anticipated.”

“Pretending that you’re in zero gravity, takes a lot of effort. And a lot of effort to make it look effortless,” she shared. “We were harnessed by the lower part of our hips and they were acting as a pendulum. So we’d squeeze our glutes to move us forward, and then squeeze abs to move us backwards. But the whole time we’re squeezing these muscles so tight and trying not to talk funny because of it,” she revealed. “So it was, I think, for all of us a lot more challenging than we realized it would be. But then, like anything, it just becomes an important part of your character. And when you’re doing it you feel like you’re all in space together.”

The project was first announced back in May 2019. It marks the latest in a recent wave of TV roles Swank has tackled. Which includes her supporting roles on Netflix’s BoJack Horseman and FX’s Trust. She was also briefly seen in theaters back in March, starring in the controversial The Hunt. Which was shuttled to VOD due to the pandemic. The actress has won two Academy Awards for Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby.

Away premieres globally on Netflix on Friday, September 4.