First Glimpse of Project Hail Mary Hints at Humor Amid High Stakes

Released in 2015, The Martian was the action-packed, witty, and surprisingly emotional science fiction film adaptation of Andy Weir’s bestselling novel of the same name. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, it was widely praised by critics and audiences, raking in over half a billion dollars at the box office, and scooping up some notable award nominations and wins along the way. So, when it was announced that a new adaptation of an Andy Weir book was in the works, the director and the star of that film, science fiction fans were already excited.

And, as per the recent announcement from Amazon MGM Studios, this time, the adaptation is of his second book, the 2021 bestseller, Project Hail Mary. The first trailer for the film gives an initial look at what audiences can expect from this tale of space exploration, survival, and more. Taking in all the action in less than two minutes, there is no doubt that this is a project with big money behind it, and even bigger concepts on the horizon. And with an actor of Ryan Gosling’s caliber in the lead role, Drew Goddard adapting the screenplay, and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directing, Project Hail Mary seems poised to be one of the most anticipated science fiction releases of the next decade.

From the studios that got in the Project Hail Mary game early, they first acquired the film rights to Weir’s work before it was even available in bookstores. And, with that purchase came the commitment to Drew Goddard on screenplays, and even before Weir began work on Project Hail Mary, Amazon MGM Studios was on the adaptation. If you remember Goddard’s work on the earlier Weir adaptation, he wrote a smart and faithful take on The Martian that was well received and earned him a nod at the Academy Awards. So, in a way, returning him to adapt Weir’s next story was a no-brainer.

The Project Hail Mary plot centers around a quiet, middle school science teacher named Ryland Grace. Played by Gosling, he is a relatable everyman figure whose normal life gets upended at the very start of the film. From the opening shot, he is panic-stricken as he wakes up on the lonely spaceship floating in space. And the viewer is equally confused at first, as it becomes clear that Ryland Grace is a long way from his apartment back on planet Earth. Brief flashbacks offer more information as the protagonist remembers moments from his life back home as a science teacher. This comes to an abrupt halt as he is approached for a job. The catch? The job is to save the world.

Sounds a bit far-fetched? This is where the trailer goes all-in on the space adventure of Project Hail Mary. The central conflict of the film’s story? The Sun is slowly dying out. No, it’s not just Earth’s sun that is darkening, but stars in the solar system surrounding Earth are too, except one. No one knows why, and the best theories scientists have suggest that there is a cosmic force at play. Grace’s experience as a molecular biologist might be the solution.

Of course, Grace is not overly excited about any of this and refuses to even consider the job offer. “I put the ‘not’ in astronaut,” he says at one point, “I can’t even moonwalk!” His dismissiveness is scolded by Eva Stratt, a high-ranking official, played by Sandra Hüller. Her logic is more compelling. “If you don’t go, you die with the rest of us. If we do nothing, everything on this planet will go extinct.” In the end, Grace acquiesces and accepts the mission. For him, this means a possible second chance with his students he was teaching, and for the rest of humanity, the very planet they live on.

Once he is accepted, training comes quickly, and it isn’t long before Grace is blasting off into space. Cut to a period in time when the astronaut wakes up to find out he is alone. There is a very brief mention that the crew of the ship was made up of people from different countries, with the addition of a Russian crew member. A cast listing reveals the role of a now-deceased Russian, Olesya Ilyukhina, played by Milana Vayntrub. Grace’s isolation doesn’t last too long. He makes contact with a second spacecraft and, to his surprise, an entirely new form of life. The viewer is led to believe this new alien species is the alien antagonist. But before too long, it is clear that the audience is in for more of a heartwarming, interspecies buddy comedy.

In a recorded message that he leaves in the space capsule, we see him being chummy with this new lifeform. “Hey, I’m Ryland. You?” He also offers this potentially iconic line: “He’s kinda growing on me. At least he’s not growing in me, you know?” The trailer even gives audiences a glimpse of the alien as Grace names the newfound lifeform Rocky. In a scene, he can be seen teaching Rocky to make the thumbs-up sign.

Project Hail Mary could be one of the most eagerly awaited releases of the decade, so it’s good to know that the story appears to both fill in the missing gaps between the Martian and this new story, while also giving space travel a humanizing touch. After all, humanity itself is at stake in this wild space adventure.