Goddard has left the film behind because of a scheduling conflict. Fox is now on the look out for a new director and is eyeing Matt Damon to star, reported The Wrap.
'The Martian' follows an astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars and must figure out how to survive long enough to return to Earth.
Simon Kinberg is set to produce the sci-fi adaptation through his Genre Films banner along with Aditya Sood. Fox executive Steve Asbell will oversee the project for the studio.
Goddard's decision to exit the adaptation is due to his busy schedule directing Sony's 'Sinister Six' and Netflix's 'Daredevil' series.