Project Hail Mary, the new science fiction film from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller starring Ryan Gosling, tells the story of hope against all odds and friendship among the most unlikely of creatures. The adaptation of the renowned 2021 novel of the same name by Andy Weir hits theaters March 20, 2026, bringing us a new sci-fi space epic in the same vein as The Martian and Interstellar.
Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a science teacher and former molecular biologist who awakes on a space vessel light-years away from home with retrograde amnesia, leaving him with no memory of who he is or how he got there. Slowly, his memory returns and he puts together what led him here and the mission he must complete: How to combat a mysterious substance that is killing the sun and, with it, all life on Earth. Grace must use his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save the world.
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What is ‘Project Hail Mary’ About?
In Project Hail Mary, scientists discover that the sun is dimming. Projections indicate that the dimming could cause an extinction-level ice age in just three decades, and the world’s governments appoint European Space Agency administrator Eva Stratt to solve the problem. Because of its dire circumstances, she has been given full legal immunity and unilateral authority to pursue any methods deemed necessary.
The dimming phenomenon began with the formation of an infrared line from the sun to Venus, dubbed the Petrova line. Initial investigations find that the Petrova line is being created by alien microbes. Stratt turns to Ryland Grace, a junior high school science teacher with an infamous past as a molecular biologist. She asks him to study the sample, and he finds that it’s composed of a type of organism that consumes electromagnetic radiation. He dubs it the Astrophage.
It is soon discovered that Astrophage is dimming other nearby stars, except one: Tau Ceti. Grace is sent on a mission to visit the star and study it to find out how it has been able to resist the infection in the hopes that the answer could save Earth.
Cast & Characters of ‘Project Hail Mary’
Ryan Gosling as Dr. Ryland Grace
Ryan Gosling stars as Dr. Ryland Grace, a junior high school science teacher who has been relegated to middle school teaching. Before he became a teacher, Grace was a molecular biologist studying life beyond the solar system. He wrote a scientific paper rejecting the theory that all life needed water in certain habitable zones, an opinion did not earn him any friends in the scientific community but eventually landed him a position as a member of Eva Stratt’s mission to save the sun and Earth.
Dr. Grace is calm, rational, inquisitive, self-deprecating and compassionate. Grace wakes up early in the story on a spaceship far from Earth, headed for Tau Ceti with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He must reassemble his memories and carry out his crucial mission before it’s too late.
Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt
Oscar nominee Sandra Hüller stars as Eva Stratt, an administrator at the European Space Agency nominated by all the world’s governments to be in charge of the Petrova Task Force. It is her job to investigate the phenomenon that is dimming the sun and threatening all life on Earth. She is given full legal authority from the United Nations to do anything possible to save Earth from the mysterious material that Ryland Grace identifies as the Astrophage.
With such a critical mission, Stratt has no time to waste, which often puts her in at odds with Grace, who struggles to comprehend the urgency of the problem while focusing on his students and his own worries.
Stratt is well aware that she is taking steps that might eventually get her into legal trouble despite her granted immunity, but her singular motivation and the importance of her task is enough for her to turn a blind eye.
James Ortiz as Rocky
Rocky, voiced and puppeteered by James Ortiz, is an alien that Grace meets on his journey. Like Grace, Rocky is the sole survivor of his crew and must figure out what is causing his own sun to dim.
An Eridian from the planet Erid, Rocky has a photographic memory and speaks a language made up of musical tones and chords akin to whale sounds. He has rough, textured skin and five limb-like appendages, giving him the appearance of a rock-like spider, and he survives in an ammonia-heavy atmosphere.
Rocky has been by himself on his own space vessel for 46 Earth years without any harm to his psychological state. His instinct when coming across Grace in outer space is to help him. Grace leads with curiosity, which allows him to form a friendship with Rocky as they work out how to communicate with one another and, eventually, sacrifice for the safety of the other. Rocky and Grace must work together to save each other’s planets.
Ken Leung as Yao Li-Jie
Ken Leung stars as Yao Li-Jie, the commander of the primary crew of the Hail Mary spacecraft. He is annoyingly honorable, straightforward and stern, and someone who understood the severity of the mission and what was asked of him. He is the archetypical leader, willing to give up his life in a second to ensure the success of the mission or his safety of his crew.
Milana Vayntrub as Olesya Ilyukhina
Milana Vayntrub stars as Olesya Ilyukhina, the materials specialist on the Hail Mary team to Tau Ceti.
When Does ‘Project Hail Mary’ Hit Theaters?
Project Hail Mary hits theaters nationwide on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Who Wrote ‘Project Hail Mary’?
Project Hail Mary is the second novel by Andy Weir that has been adapted for film. The first, The Martian, was also critically acclaimed and turned into a movie starring Matt Damon and directed by Ridley Scott. Project Hail Mary was a finalist for the 2022 Hugo Award for Best Novel and its unabridged audiobook read by Ray Porter won Audiobook of the Year. As has become custom with Weir’s novels, the film blends well-researched science underneath a masterful blend of comedic and intense moments.
Who Directed ‘Project Hail Mary’?
Project Hail Mary brings Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who are most well-known for their work on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, the Spider-Verse films, 21 Jump Street and its sequel 22 Jump Street, and The Lego Movie, back together.
Watch Sci-Fi Movies & Shows on DIRECTV
Looking for other top sci-fi films or shows to watch while you get ready for Project Hail Mary, or want more after seeing the film? You can watch tons of great science fiction movies and shows right on DIRECTV.
Frequently asked questions
Who directed 'Project Hail Mary'?
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are the directors of Project Hail Mary. It is based on the novel by Andy Weir and was adapted for the screen by Drew Goddard, who also adapted Weir's first novel, The Martian.
Who stars in 'Project Hail Mary'?
Project Hail Mary stars Ryan Gosling as Dr. Ryland Grace, Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt and James Ortiz as Rocky the alien.
Is 'Project Hail Mary' Based on a book?
Project Hail Mary is based on the book of the same name written by Andy Weir. Project Hail Mary was critically acclaimed and a finalist for the 2022 Hugo Award for Best Novel, an award given by the World Science Fiction Society for science fiction or fantasy stories of that year.
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