Project Hail Mary: A Sci-Fi Epic from the Author of ‘The Martian’

Ryan Gosling stars in Project Hail Mary, a new science fiction adventure film directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and written by Drew Goddard. Based on the 2021 novel by Andy Weir, author of The Martian, the film premiered in London on March 9, 2026, and is scheduled for release in the United States on March 20, 2026, by Amazon MGM Studios.

The Story Unfolds

The film follows Ryland Grace, portrayed by Ryan Gosling, who awakens on an interstellar spacecraft with amnesia, unsure of his mission or how he arrived there. As he pieces together his memories, Grace discovers he is humanity’s last hope to combat “Astrophage,” a substance consuming the sun’s energy and threatening Earth with an impending ice age [Rotten Tomatoes]. The mission, dubbed “Hail Mary,” is a desperate gamble to save the planet.

Cast and Crew

Project Hail Mary boasts a stellar cast including Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub [Wikipedia]. The film is produced by Amy Pascal, Ryan Gosling, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Aditya Sood, Rachel O’Connor, and Andy Weir. The cinematography is by Greig Fraser, with editing by Joel Negron and music by Daniel Pemberton [Wikipedia].

Critical Reception

Early reviews highlight the film’s visual design, compelling screenplay, and Gosling’s performance. Christianity Today notes the film explores themes of sacrificial friendship [Christianity Today]. The narrative centers on Grace’s collaboration with an alien life form, nicknamed “Loki,” as they work together to find a solution to the Astrophage crisis.

Production Details

The film has a net budget of $200 million and a gross budget of $248 million [Wikipedia]. It is a production of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Pascal Pictures, Open Invite Films, Waypoint Entertainment, and Lord Miller Productions, and is distributed by Amazon MGM Studios in the United States and Canada, and Sony Pictures Releasing International [Wikipedia]. The film runs for 156 minutes.

Themes and Exploration

Beyond the thrilling sci-fi adventure, Project Hail Mary delves into questions of humanity, collaboration, and the search for life beyond Earth. The film explores the concept of what defines “vitality” and challenges audiences to consider the characteristics that develop us human [Rotten Tomatoes].