The Space Between Us (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A Mars-born boy's journey to Earth reveals his origins, tests human limits, and forges unexpected bonds across the cosmos.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Mars Origins & Secret Upbringing

Sarah Elliot dies after Gardner's birth on Mars, leaving Kendra Wyndham to raise him in secret. Years later, Gardner discovers clues about his past while connecting with Tulsa online.

Key Events

• Genesis Mars Mission Launch — Tom Chen directs Genesis mission; Sarah Elliot travels to Mars. Characters: Tom Chen, Sarah Elliot Location: Space Launch Site
• Sarah's Death & Gardner's Birth — Sarah gives birth to Gardner and dies from eclampsia. Characters: Sarah Elliot Location: Mars Colony
• Kendra Assumes Guardianship — Kendra raises Gardner secretly after Sarah's death. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Sarah Elliot Location: Mars Base
• Gardner's Internet Chat — Tulsa chats online with Gardner, unaware of his true origins. Characters: Tulsa Location: Colorado Foster Home

The Earth Expedition

Kendra Wyndham secretly trains Gardner and launches him to Earth. He escapes NASA quarantine and teams up with Tulsa to find his father, unaware of his fatal condition.

Key Events

• Gardner's Internet Chat — Tulsa chats online with Gardner, unaware of his true origins. Characters: Tulsa Location: Colorado Foster Home
• Gardner's Video Discovery — Gardner finds Sarah's video and ring, sparking his Earth quest. Characters: Tulsa Location: Mars Penthouse
• Kendra's Advocacy Call — Kendra calls Tom Chen to request Gardner's Earth transfer. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tom Chen Location: Mars Base
• Secret Training & Launch — Kendra secretly trains Gardner and launches him to Earth. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tom Chen Location: Mars Shuttle
• Earth Quarantine & Escape — Gardner escapes quarantine and seeks Tulsa's help. Characters: Tulsa Location: NASA Facility
• Genesis Policy Conflict — Tom Chen faces Nathaniel's anger for hiding Gardner's training. Characters: Tom Chen, Kendra Wyndham Location: Genesis HQ
• Sarah's Legacy Video — Tulsa views Sarah's beach house footage, guiding the quest. Characters: Tulsa Location: Mars Penthouse
• Medical Crisis Revelation — Kendra learns Gardner's heart cannot withstand Earth's pressure. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tulsa Location: NASA Lab

Truths & Collapses

Tulsa discovers Gardner's true origins through medical evidence. The quest leads to a heartbreaking revelation at the beach house, culminating in Gardner's collapse near the ocean.

Key Events

• Tulsa's Belief Shift — Tulsa sees carbon tubes in Gardner's bones and believes his Mars origin. Characters: Tulsa Location: Las Vegas Hospital
• Beach House Revelation — Tulsa helps locate the beach house from Sarah's video. Characters: Tulsa Location: Summerland, CA
• Gardner's Collapse — Gardner collapses near the sea, realizing he cannot survive on Earth. Characters: Tulsa Location: Ocean Shore
• Ocean Rescue — Kendra and others pull Gardner from the ocean. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tulsa Location: Ocean Shore
• Medical Crisis Revelation — Kendra learns Gardner's heart cannot withstand Earth's pressure. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tulsa Location: NASA Lab

Orbital Rescue & New Beginnings

Kendra Wyndham rescues Gardner and returns him to orbit. After stabilizing, Gardner heads back to Mars while Tulsa is adopted by Kendra and begins her own space training.

Key Events

• Ocean Rescue — Kendra and others pull Gardner from the ocean. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tulsa Location: Ocean Shore
• Father Identity Confirmed — Gardner realizes Nathaniel is his father and is rushed to orbit. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tulsa Location: Mars Base
• Orbital Stabilization — Gardner is revived in orbit, free from Earth's gravity. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tulsa Location: Dream Chaser
• Tulsa's Adoption — Kendra officially adopts Tulsa after retiring from active flight. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tulsa Location: NASA Headquarters
• Space Training Enrollment — Tulsa joins Kendra's program to eventually travel to Mars. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tulsa Location: NASA Training Center
• Final Departure to Mars — Gardner returns to Mars while Tulsa prepares for her own journey. Characters: Kendra Wyndham, Tulsa Location: Mars Colony

Story Breakdown

• Mars Origins — Establishes the secret birth and isolated upbringing on the red planet.
  • Secret Birth — Sarah gives birth to Gardner before dying.
  • Kendra's Guardianship — Kendra raises Gardner in hiding on Mars.
  • Online Connection — Gardner bonds with Tulsa through chatrooms.
• Earth Expedition — The clandestine journey to Earth and initial survival challenges.
  • Secret Training — Kendra prepares Gardner for Earth's atmosphere.
  • NASA Escape — Gardner flees quarantine to find his father.
  • Tulsa Alliance — Tulsa agrees to help Gardner navigate Earth.
• Medical Crisis — The revelation of Gardner's fatal physiological limits.
  • Troponin Revelation — Tests show his heart cannot withstand Earth pressure.
  • Hospital Collapse — Gardner's body fails during a Las Vegas stop.
  • Ocean Despair — Gardner accepts his mortality near the sea.
• Truth Revelation — The quest for his father leads to unexpected discoveries.
  • Beach House Search — Tulsa uses Sarah's video to locate the address.
  • Uncle Discovery — The man from the video is revealed as his uncle.
  • Father Confirmation — Gardner realizes Nathaniel is his true father.
• Orbital Rescue — The dramatic rescue and stabilization in space.
  • Ocean Pull — Kendra and team rescue Gardner from the water.
  • Dream Chaser Launch — They rush him to a spacecraft for immediate launch.
  • Gravity Stabilization — Orbit removes Earth's pressure, reviving Gardner.
• New Beginnings — Resolution of character arcs and future trajectories.
  • Tulsa Adoption — Kendra officially adopts Tulsa post-retirement.
  • Space Training — Tulsa enrolls in Kendra's Mars preparation program.
  • Mars Return — Gardner safely returns to his home planet.
• Corporate Conflict — Behind-the-scenes tensions within Genesis and NASA.
  • Genesis Policies — Corporate fear drives the secrecy around Gardner.
  • Tom's Secrecy — Tom Chen hides training details from leadership.
  • Nathaniel's Anger — The CEO confronts Tom over the unauthorized launch.
• Emotional Bonds — The human connections that transcend planetary boundaries.
  • Foster Care Past — Tulsa's lonely upbringing shapes her empathy.
  • Adoptive Family — Kendra and Tulsa build a new familial unit.
  • Cross-Planetary Friendship — Tulsa and Gardner's bond survives physical separation.

Directed by

Peter Chelsom

Key Cast

• Asa Butterfield — Gardner Elliot
• Britt Robertson — Tulsa
• Carla Gugino — Kendra Wyndham
• Gary Oldman — Nathaniel Shepherd
• Janet Montgomery — Sarah Elliot