From the creator of ‘The Martian’, ‘Project Hail Mary’ is Andy Weir’s newest story to hit the big screen.
Project Hail Mary has grossed over $300 million globally in its first two weeks and counting. Based on the massively-successful, best-selling 2021 science-fiction novel written by Andy Weir, the story was adapted for the screen by Drew Goddard and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Starring Ryan Gosling, James Ortiz, Sandra Hüller, Ken Yeung, Lionel Boyce, Milana Vayntrub, and more, the film has been nothing short of “AMAZE, AMAZE, AMAZE.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 18: Ryan Gosling attends “Project Hail Mary” New York premiere at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The plot focuses on a molecular biologist turned middle school science teacher who finds himself in space with no recollection of who he is, how he got there, what his purpose is, or how to get back to Earth. From the author of The Martian, Andy Weir’s best-selling sci-fi novel Project Hail Mary tells the story of Dr. Ryland Grace, who must put together the pieces of his memory that would allow him to save earth, to return home, or to potentially achieve both. Defining what ‘home’ meant, however, became the true mission here.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 18: (L-R) Phil Lord, Sandra Hüller, Ryan Gosling, Chris Miller, James Ortiz and Lionel Boyce attends the “Project Hail Mary” New York Premiere at Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center on March 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios)
Ryan Gosling has been on board since the manuscript in 2020, and despite Andy Weir accidentally addressing Ryan Gosling as Ryan Reynolds in their first phone call, the two hit it off immediately- embarking on what would become a six-year journey to create a film out of this world.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 18: (L-R) Phil Lord, Sandra Hüller, Ryan Gosling and Chris Miller attend the “Project Hail Mary” New York Premiere at Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center on March 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios)
Director Phil Lord shared, “At one point Paul Lambert (VFX supervisor) and Greig Fraser (cinematographer) looked at us and said ‘This is the most complex film we have ever worked on and we just finished making two ‘Dunes’.”
From the practical effects and zero-use of green or blue screens, to the talented team of ‘Rocky-teers’ who brought Rocky to life each day on set, the stories of trial-and-error told by the cast and crew are endless and honorable.
James Ortiz (voice and puppeteer of Rocky) mentioned his favorite moment of improvisation in the film: “There is, of course, the “thumbs up” because that was just something that happened in the moment because of the puppet. They said ‘Do a thumbs up,’ and we said ‘his thumb only points down, we can’t do it!'”
While screenwriter Drew Goddard praised the puppeteer work in the film, he also specifically honored teachers, saying “One of the reasons I fell in love with this book is because it’s about a teacher saving the universe. My mom is a school-teacher, she’s been teaching in the classroom for 50+ years, and I just wanted to show that teachers are the most important part of our world right now.”
Project Hail Mary is in theaters and IMAX now.
