Ryan Gosling finds friendship and understanding in an unexpected place in Project Hail Mary.
Based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name, the story follows Dr. Ryland Grace, an introverted science teacher who wakes up alone aboard a spacecraft with no memory of who he is, where he’s going, or why he’s there. As fragments of his memory return, he realizes he’s on a mission to solve a cosmic crisis that threatens life on Earth.
A mysterious substance is causing the sun to die, and Grace becomes humanity’s last — and very reluctant — line of defense.
“This guy is not an astronaut. He’s just a regular guy. He is a teacher. He is not supposed to be there,” Gosling told Blavity’s Shadow and Act in our cast interview.
Ryan Gosling on playing an unexpected hero
Gosling has previously portrayed astronaut Neil Armstrong in the 2018 film, First Man. But playing an ordinary science teacher placed in an extraordinary situation offered a different perspective.
The actor said the contrast was refreshing.
“All the things I had explored before seemed elegant and effortless. Now I could really embrace the reality of how I think I would be, which is like a total mess,” he said jokingly.
Gosling, who also serves as an executive producer on the film, brings both humor and tension to a story that largely unfolds far from Earth.
Meet Rocky, the alien ally
During the mission, Grace encounters Rocky, a five-legged alien with rock-like skin who is also attempting to solve the same stellar crisis threatening his own civilization.
“Rocky is just the coolest alien you’re ever gonna meet,” Gosling said.
While Gosling joked that his extraterrestrial co-star is a bit of a “high-maintenance diva” with an entourage, he said the partnership that forms between the two characters becomes central to the story.
Initially cautious of the unknown, Grace eventually begins to approach Rocky as an equal rather than a subject of study. The two work together to communicate through a computer-generated language while sharing information about their missions.
Sandra Hüller’s Eva Stratt leads Earth’s response
Sandra Hüller plays Eva Stratt, the mission leader responsible for coordinating humanity’s effort to prevent the sun from dying.
Stratt ultimately makes the controversial decision to send Grace into space even after he initially refuses the mission — a moment Hüller said she considered carefully while preparing for the role.
“I had a conversation about that with Phil and Chris in the beginning about if I had a problem with you making that decision… and I don’t,” Hüller said about the scene where her character prioritizes the mission.
She described Eva as a character focused on responsibility rather than personal recognition.
“The things that he is going through in this film are so incredible and challenging, but I think I just try to find out how I can guide his character through the things that he has to go through,” she said. “One of the beautiful things about Eva is that it’s never about her. She doesn’t make it about her, her doubts, or anything. Some things need to be done. So she’s doing them with a great deal of warmth and empathy while trying to be a good, reliable leader.”
Bringing Andy Weir’s novel to the screen
The film is produced and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who signed on to the project after responding to the manuscript’s tone and story.
Their previous work includes the 2015 film adaptation of Weir’s novel The Martian. With Project Hail Mary, they faced the challenge of adapting a story that relies heavily on the main character’s inner thoughts.
“That was one of the biggest challenges of making the movie: you can’t hear his thoughts,” Miller said.
“We have to find a way to tell that story cinematically and visually without Ryan explaining it to us all the time, and luckily we had to partner with Ryan, who’s one of the most gifted actors of our day, to put you in the first-person headspace of the character.”
Communication and curiosity drive the story
While the mission centers on preventing a cosmic disaster, the film also explores how cooperation and curiosity shape Grace’s journey.
Through his interactions with Rocky, Grace learns to navigate fear and uncertainty while working toward a shared goal.
Reflecting on the experience, Gosling said the story highlights the value of curiosity.
“This movie taught me to be more curious in general. Curiosity can actually be an antidote to anxiety. Instead of being afraid of it, be curious about it,” he said. “Just like what Grace has — and it ends up becoming his superpower in a way, because it’s what helps him keep going.”
Project Hail Mary hits theaters on March 20.
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