Further to my review in 2014, I have since thought that it is too bad they didn't film an alternate ending in the event the movie did not sell as a series.
In an alternate ending, Neil would make it off the launch pad, disable some systems MacAuley told him about so that a self-destruct cannot be triggered from the ground, and Benedict might consider suicide than face his superiors for a spectacular failure. Neil would manage to "phone home", but it's a long trip ahead and Terra could still try to stop him, depending on the capability of long range missile technology dormant since the Perfect Order started. A hint in the Ward E scene could also be used, with Benedict facing Mike or Steve in another facility.
This alternate ending could be used, say, after any interest from a network is too late to act on.
In an alternate ending, Neil would make it off the launch pad, disable some systems MacAuley told him about so that a self-destruct cannot be triggered from the ground, and Benedict might consider suicide than face his superiors for a spectacular failure. Neil would manage to "phone home", but it's a long trip ahead and Terra could still try to stop him, depending on the capability of long range missile technology dormant since the Perfect Order started. A hint in the Ward E scene could also be used, with Benedict facing Mike or Steve in another facility.
This alternate ending could be used, say, after any interest from a network is too late to act on.