Phil Lord and Christopher Miller will co-direct Project Hail Mary, adapted from Andy Weir’s 2021 novel.
At Ars, we’ve long appreciated the cinematic adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2015 novel, The Martian. Therefore, our enthusiasm surged upon learning about the upcoming film Project Hail Mary, based on Weir’s recent bestseller from 2021. Amazon MGM Studios has just unveiled the first trailer, which suggests a film closely resembling the tone and style of The Martian.
(Readers should note some spoilers ahead, though nothing revealed is beyond the trailer.)
The rights to Weir’s novel were acquired by the studio prior to its official publication, and Drew Goddard was brought on board to pen the screenplay. Goddard, known for his work on the adapted screenplay of The Martian, appears to be a fitting choice. For direction, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller—renowned for their work on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and The LEGO Movie—have taken the helm, with Ryan Gosling cast in the lead role.
The trailer indicates that the movie will closely align with the narrative of the book. It opens with a disheveled Ryland Grace, portrayed by Gosling, who finds himself awakening on a spaceship with no recollection of how he got there, several light-years away from home. Flashbacks illustrate Grace’s previous life as a middle school teacher before he is recruited for a high-stakes mission aimed at planetary salvation. With the sun and several other stars on the brink of extinction, scientists are puzzled, but Grace’s background as a molecular biologist may hold the key to understanding this cosmic crisis.
Despite being reluctant about his astronaut status—claiming, “I put the ‘not’ in astronaut” and admitting he can’t even moonwalk—Grace’s objections are ignored. His superior, Eva Stratt (played by Sandra Hüller), insists, “If you don’t go, you die with the rest of us,” although she concedes the venture is a long shot. She highlights the urgency of their mission: “If we do nothing, everything on this planet will go extinct,” which includes all of Grace’s students.
Following some space training, Grace embarks on a journey aboard a rocket, only to awaken light-years away with temporary amnesia. Alone and clearly the sole survivor of his crew, he soon encounters an alien vessel and a new life form. Grace comments in his video report, “He’s kinda growing on me,” jokingly adding, “At least he’s not growing in me,” about his new companion, whom he names Rocky. The film promises intrigue and adventure, the full scope of which will be revealed upon its release next year. (Readers may also opt to explore the book for more details.)
Project Hail Mary is scheduled to premiere in theaters on March 20, 2026. Anticipation is building for this one.
