In a recent interview, directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller shed light on the upcoming astronaut movie, Project Hail Mary, which is headlined by the talented Ryan Gosling. The film is based on Andy Weir's 2021 sci-fi novel and revolves around a former teacher turned astronaut who must save Earth from an impending ice age by embarking on a journey to a distant galaxy.
Gosling not only stars in the film but also serves as a producer, with the adaptation rights to Weir's novel having been acquired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Project Hail Mary follows the story of an astronaut who awakens from a coma on a space station, completely unaware of his identity or the mission he is meant to fulfill. As he slowly unravels the mysteries surrounding his existence, he realizes that he may hold the key to saving the world.
During the interview, Lord and Miller, known for their work on films such as Solo: A Star Wars Story, shared how their experience on that project influenced the development of Project Hail Mary. They emphasized the importance of unconventional characters at the core of the story and an underlying theme of radical benevolence. They acknowledged that tackling a challenge like having a main character communicate solely through music and without a face was something they were eager to undertake, believing in the intelligence of their audience.
While Project Hail Mary is set to commence production in early 2024, Lord and Miller have several other projects lined up in the meantime. They recently served as producers on the Will Ferrell-led comedy Strays and returned to the Spider-Man franchise with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and its upcoming sequel, Beyond the Spider-Verse.
As for Ryan Gosling, he has been busy bringing other compelling characters to life. He stars in Barbie, playing the role of Ken, a character known for his naivety and absent-mindedness, opposite Margot Robbie's titular doll. Following this, Gosling takes on the role of veteran stuntman Colt Seaver in the adaptation of the 1980s series The Fall Guy, directed by David Leitch. The film features an ensemble cast including Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Winston Duke, and Stephanie Hsu and is scheduled for release in 2024.
Project Hail Mary marks a highly anticipated return to directing for Lord and Miller, who famously left Solo: A Star Wars Story during its production. With multiple projects in development, including Gosling's Wolf Man reimagining, fans eagerly await the theatrical release of this sci-fi adaptation.
