VIDEO : 'Martian' Screenwriter Drew Goddard: No Movie Without Matt Damon

The 40-year-old explains why his plans to direct fell through and his first reaction to being asked to tackle the space novel: "You're asking me if I want to write and direct a blog?" A version of this story first appeared in a special awards season issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Drew Goddard's geek bona fides are more than solid: His first writing credits were on shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alias and Lost; his feature scripting debut was the J.J.