There are significant amounts of backstory on various wrestlers on the team.

There is no backstory on other characters with the exception of a bit on Kuch, Carla and Louden's parents.

The main character is kidnapped and held prisoner for 10 years.

He is held for 20 years.

In the book, she is only mentioned in a handful of scenes that serve to highlight the emotional detachment/apathy two of the main characters develop for human intimacy. In the book Liang interacts with Charlotte a few times, before one sexual encounter that is described from Laing's perspective, as the end rather than the beginning of any relationship. She drops out of the story until near the end when mentioned again a few times in Wilder's arc.

Media releases have confirmed that the character played by Sienna Miller is now the devoted aide of Anthony Royal. According to the press, this Charlotte develops a relationship through the events of the story with Liang's character. Given Ms Miller's star status, and that the actual 'love interest' in Liang's arc wouldn't have played well with the film classification, I suppose the producers can be excused for exercising some creative license and elevating a minor character to a major role.

The published book ends with Watney feeling fortunate about his rescue and waiting for the pain killers to kick in before he takes a shower. An alternate ending shows Watney eating pizza back on Earth during a break from training the Ares 6 crew. When asked by a boy if he plans on going into space again, he says **** no!!!

The movie ends with Watney training wanna-be astronauts and shows the Ares 5 launch with Martinez as part of the crew which includes a Chinese astronaut. Lewis is at home with her husband. Beck and Johanssen are in the maternity ward with their new born baby and Vogel is with his family.

Daphne is a replacement concubine for Mackie. Jonathon appears to like them both.

Jonathon tolerates Daphne; she is a replacement for Mackie when she is sent away. Jonathon meets Mackie later on at the party held in his honor; she tells him she is with an executive now.

Father O'Day risks his life for the freedom of t he children and his role as priest is substantial to the devil like character of Deranian.

No priest, or Godly references

In the novel, the name of the school is Ewen Consolidated High School.

In the movie, the name of the high school is Bates High School (as a nod to Norman Bates from Psycho).

Frank tells Henry that he wants to go to his house before meeting Adele.

He tells Adele he wants to go there while they are driving.

At Christmas Jacob gives Renesmee a promise ring

At Christmas Jacob gives Renesmee a bracket he made.

This doesn't happen.

Cheryl has sex with two men in an alley.