Ryan Gosling stars in the sci-fi film “Project Hail Mary,” directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, as a science teacher stranded alone in space.
The sci-fi adventure film centers on Ryland Grace, who wakes up on a spaceship light-years from Earth, with no memory of who he is or how he ended up there. After gradually regaining his memory, he discovers he is on a mission to stop a mysterious substance from causing the sun to die out. In the process of trying to carry out his mission, he encounters an alien named Rocky, leading to an unexpected, out-of-this-world friendship.
The film, released March 20, 2026, is based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel and features notable performances from Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Milana Vayntrub, Liz Kingsman, and Lionel Boyce. The cast brings a strong performance in their respective roles. Gosling brings his intense acting skills yet again with strong emotional depth throughout the film, acting as a teacher, astronaut and Rocky’s human friend.
The cinematography captures the strong sense of unfamiliarity of space as Grace moves through the spaceship and adds dramatic effects to tense moments in the film while displaying the different emotions between him and Rocky. The film utilizes extensive practical effects, avoiding the use of green screens and opting to use LED screens instead. The alien Rocky was also a product of practical effects, created as a physical, 3D-printed character puppeteered on set.
The film’s score, composed by Daniel Pemberton, includes tracks like “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles, “Stargazer” by Neil Diamond, “Two of Us” by The Beatles, “Wind of Change” by Scorpions, “Let’s Call This Whole Thing Off” by Ella Fitzgerald and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” by Kris Kristofferson. The use of needle drops in this film aided in making certain scenes emotionally heavy, creating an overall exceptional soundtrack.
Project Hail Mary has been described as highly a faithful adaptation of the novel by fans, earning a 95% critics score and a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film offers an immersive experience for science fiction audiences.