Project Hail Mary (2026) directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, along with star Ryan Gosling, manage to do the impossible—make audiences empathize with a rock. Project Hail Mary captures the same scientific spirit as The Martian adaptation, delivering an educational, optimistic, and entertaining trip to outer space.
Adapted from Andy Weir’s third novel of the same name, science teacher Ryland Grace is called upon to help save Earth from a mysterious substance that is killing off the sun. Once in space, light-years away from home, he finds himself alone to carry out the mission. An unexpected alien partner—in the shape of a rock—helps Ryland forge ahead to solve a mutual problem.
Like The Martian (2015), Project Hail Mary relies heavily on science for the survival of a single person. The first part of the movie is somewhat bogged down with information regarding the solar threat, but we quickly get to space, avoiding the usual tropes of astronaut training.
Ryan Gosling brings charm, wit, and a believable scientific mind to the role. You don’t immediately think of Gosling as a scientific genius, but he sells the part in a grounded and relatable way.
Lord and Miller had their work cut out for them, transforming a character made of rock, with no facial features, into a living being. Luckily, the faceless slab of rock’s alien language is translated through a computer.
The relationship between Ryland and Rocky is the heart of the film. Their rock-solid partnership exemplifies teamwork regardless of physical appearance.
Luckily for Gosling, a puppeteer was on hand to perform Rocky during filming and run the lines with the actor, and it makes all the difference. The audience ends up rooting for both characters equally.
The alien-and-human friendship is reminiscent of films like Enemy Mine and E.T.
Project Hail Mary is an optimistic, feel-good movie—exactly the kind of story audiences need in times of global turmoil.
