Project Hail Mary First Reactions: Ryan Gosling Leads One of 2026’s Most Anticipated Films

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Key Takeaways

• Ryan Gosling delivers what early critics are calling a career-best performance as Ryland Grace
• Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller bring warmth and humor to a hard sci-fi premise
• First reactions from February 25, 2026 screenings are overwhelmingly positive ahead of the March 20 release

From Page to Screen: The Story Behind the Adaptation

Few science fiction novels of the past decade have captured readers’ imaginations quite like Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Published in 2021, the Hugo Award-winning story follows a middle school science teacher named Dr. Ryland Grace who wakes up aboard a spaceship millions of miles from Earth with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. As his memory slowly returns in fragmented flashbacks, he pieces together a terrifying reality: he’s the lone surviving crew member on a last-ditch mission to the Tau Ceti solar system, sent there to find a way to stop a solar-dimming microorganism called Astrophage from slowly killing the Sun. If he fails, Earth faces an extinction-level ice age.

Weir built a reputation for blending accessible storytelling with genuinely rigorous science, a formula that worked spectacularly when The Martian made its way to theaters in 2015 under Ridley Scott’s direction. Project Hail Mary follows a similar path, and the team assembled to bring it to life is arguably the strongest collection of talent attached to any 2026 release. It’s scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on March 20, 2026, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios.

The Creative Team

Directing duties fell to Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo behind The Lego Movie and the animated Spider-Verse franchise. Their live-action work has been sparse since 2014’s 22 Jump Street, which makes Project Hail Mary something of a return to form. Their directorial philosophy leans into warmth and human connection rather than cold spectacle, a quality that sits perfectly with Weir’s source material. As Lord himself explained during a preview event, the film aims to capture the texture of effort: the space sequences were deliberately shot to feel immediate and slightly unglamorous, rather than polished and easy.

The screenplay was handled by Drew Goddard, who earned an Oscar nomination for adapting Weir’s previous novel into the screenplay for the 2015 film The Martian. That continuity matters. Goddard understands how to take Weir’s first-person scientific problem-solving voice and translate it into cinematic storytelling without stripping away the wit or intellectual rigor that made the books popular.

Cinematography is handled by Greig Fraser, the Oscar-winning director of photography behind Dune and The Batman.Fraser and the directors made a deliberate choice to shoot the film on two different film stocks: one for the space-based sequences and another for the Earth-set flashbacks. The IMAX sequences aboard the Hail Mary spacecraft fill the full 1.43:1 frame, giving those scenes an expansive, immersive quality. The Earth flashbacks, by contrast, were shot in the more traditional 2.39:1 widescreen format, visually reinforcing their role as selective, constrained memories. It’s a technical decision that serves the story in a meaningful way.

Daniel Pemberton composed the score, continuing his creative relationship with Lord and Miller after his work on the Spider-Verse films. Editor Chris Dickens managed the considerable challenge of weaving dual timelines together without losing emotional momentum. Visual effects work was distributed across several major studios: Framestore handled the animation of the alien character Rocky and certain space environments, Industrial Light & Magic contributed spacecraft and large-scale astronomical sequences, and additional effects work came from Sony Pictures Imageworks, BUF, and Wylie Co.

Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace

Ryan Gosling is not simply the lead of this film; he’s the gravitational center around which everything orbits. Ryland Grace is onscreen for virtually the entire runtime, and for a significant portion of that time, he’s essentially alone. It’s a demanding role that asks an actor to carry the audience through a story that operates largely through internal monologue in the novel. Gosling is also one of the film’s producers, having been attached to the project since its earliest stages in 2020.

First reactions from a press screening on February 25, 2026 describe his performance in striking terms. Multiple critics have flagged it as a potential Best Actor contender, pointing to a performance that balances fear, humor, scientific problem-solving, and deep emotional vulnerability. The character starts the film terrified and amnesiac, and slowly rebuilds himself into something resembling courage. That arc requires genuine range, and early responders suggest Gosling has delivered it completely.

Sandra Hüller, the German actress acclaimed for her work in Anatomy of a Fall, plays Eva Stratt, the head of the Hail Mary project and Ryland’s superior in the flashback sequences. The film also features Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub in supporting roles.

Rocky: The Heart of the Film

Much of the early critical buzz has zeroed in on the character of Rocky, the alien that Grace eventually encounters aboard another spacecraft in the Tau Ceti system. Rocky, like Grace, has been sent on a solo mission to find a solution to the Astrophage problem threatening his own planet. The two become unlikely allies, and their friendship forms the emotional backbone of the story.

Bringing Rocky to life was one of the film’s most significant technical undertakings. The character was designed and built by creature effects legend Neal Scanlan and his creature shop. On set, Rocky was performed physically by puppeteer James Ortiz and a dedicated team of puppeteers who were present for every scene alongside Gosling, giving the actor a real, tactile presence to react to. Post-production animation by Framestore’s team, led by animator Arslan Elver, then refined and completed Rocky’s performance. That combination of practical and digital craftsmanship is exactly what Lord and Miller intended, and early viewers say it shows.

Critics who’ve seen the film describe the Grace-Rocky dynamic as unexpectedly funny and genuinely moving. One framing that has emerged repeatedly is the “buddy movie” comparison: a film about two very different beings who can’t speak each other’s language finding ways to communicate, solve problems together, and develop a bond that neither anticipated. The emotional payoff in the film’s third act has reportedly moved multiple critics to tears, which speaks to how effectively Gosling and the puppetry team sold the relationship.

Visual Scale and Technical Ambition

The production was shot primarily in the United Kingdom, with principal photography running from June 3, 2024 to October 26, 2024. The production employed traditional sets alongside motion control photography for exterior spacecraft work and performance capture for specific sequences. Fraser’s approach of using different film stocks for space and Earth footage borrows a technique he previously deployed on The Batman and the first Dune film, where each environment carries its own distinct visual identity.

For audiences seeking the fullest experience the film can offer, IMAX is the intended format. The filmmakers struck actual physical IMAX 70mm film prints for select theaters, an increasingly uncommon practice that delivers exceptional image quality free from digital compression. The trailer released during Super Bowl LX in February 2026 was called one of the best spots at the event, and the first trailer, released in June 2025, accumulated over 400 million global views in its first week, a record for an original non-sequel film.

Critical First Reactions

The first wave of critical reactions hit on February 25, 2026, following a press screening, and the response has been strikingly uniform in its enthusiasm. Several critics have described the film as a masterpiece and positioned it as the first major blockbuster of 2026 to fully deliver on its promise. Comparisons to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial have appeared in multiple reactions, pointing to the film’s ability to combine high-concept science fiction with accessible warmth. The 160-minute runtime has been flagged by a small number of critics as slightly long, and one observer noted that a plot point from the novel appears to have been omitted, though this was not considered a fatal flaw.

Actor Josh Gad, after attending a private screening, publicly called the film the first masterpiece of 2026 and urged audiences to see it on the largest screen available. The film’s IMAX-native format and Fraser’s cinematography have received particular praise, with multiple critics noting that the visual experience alone justifies a theatrical visit.

What separates Project Hail Mary from other recent science fiction releases, based on these early responses, is its tonal balance. Lord and Miller apparently resisted the pull toward the darker, more cynical register that characterizes much of the genre. The film is described as funny, joyful, and wholesome without being saccharine, which is a difficult needle to thread. That quality reportedly makes the film addictive to watch rather than merely impressive.

Context and Legacy

Project Hail Mary arrives at a moment when original, non-franchise science fiction rarely receives this level of studio investment and marketing support. Amazon MGM Studios backed the production with significant resources, including IMAX commitments and a wide theatrical release, suggesting genuine confidence in the material’s commercial appeal. If it performs as strongly at the box office as early critical sentiment suggests it might, it could open doors for more ambitious original science fiction projects in the years ahead.

The creative lineage here is also worth noting. Andy Weir himself, after attending a screening, described the film in deeply positive terms and expressed complete satisfaction with how his story was handled. That endorsement carries weight for fans of the novel who approach the adaptation anxiously. Drew Goddard‘s two-for-two record adapting Weir’s work suggests he has identified what makes this author’s voice translatable to film and how to honor it without being slavishly faithful.

The film also marks a notable creative milestone for Lord and Miller. Returning to live-action direction more than a decade after their last theatrical feature, and doing so with a project this technically demanding and emotionally complex, carries real risk. Early signals suggest the gamble paid off. Their reputation for capturing genuine human warmth in high-concept scenarios, proven across animated projects, has apparently translated to the far reaches of the galaxy.

What to Expect Before March 20

With nearly a month remaining before the official release, Project Hail Mary has the kind of early momentum that rarely fades before opening weekend. Formal reviews remain under embargo until closer to the release date, so the current wave of reactions represents industry insiders and select press rather than the full critical community. But the consistency of the positive response, paired with the film’s creative pedigree, makes a strong case for this being one of 2026’s defining cinema events.

For those unfamiliar with the source novel, the story requires no prior knowledge of Andy Weir‘s writing or of hard science fiction as a genre. The premise is accessible, the stakes are clear, and the central relationship between Grace and Rocky provides an emotional anchor that critics say carries viewers through the more technically demanding passages. The science is present but the film, like the book, makes it feel like adventure rather than homework.

Summary

Project Hail Mary opens March 20, 2026 with the weight of enormous expectations and, based on what critics who attended early screenings are reporting, the film meets them. Ryan Gosling delivers a career-defining performance at the center of a story about isolation, discovery, and the power of unexpected friendship. Phil Lord and Christopher Millerbring their trademark warmth to a hard science fiction premise, and Greig Fraser provides the visual language to make it all feel epic and intimate simultaneously. The adaptation of Andy Weir‘s beloved novel appears to be not just worthy of the source material but potentially superior to it as an emotional experience. For audiences seeking smart, funny, and deeply moving cinema in 2026, Project Hail Mary is the film to watch.

Appendix: Top 10 Questions Answered in This Article

What is Project Hail Mary about?

Project Hail Mary follows Dr. Ryland Grace, a science teacher turned astronaut who wakes up aboard a spaceship with complete amnesia, millions of miles from Earth. As his memory returns, he learns he’s the sole surviving member of a crew sent to the Tau Ceti system on a desperate mission to stop a microorganism called Astrophage that is slowly consuming the Sun’s energy. He’s not alone in his mission: he eventually encounters an alien named Rocky sent on the same task from a different world.

Who plays Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary?

Ryan Gosling plays Dr. Ryland Grace in the 2026 film adaptation. Gosling is also one of the film’s producers, having been attached to the project since 2020. Early critical reactions describe his performance as a potential career best and one of the strongest Best Actor contenders of 2026.

Who directed the Project Hail Mary film?

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller co-directed the film, marking their return to live-action theatrical directing after more than a decade. The duo is widely known for animated hits including The Lego Movie and their role as producers and writers on the Spider-Verse franchise.

Is Project Hail Mary based on a book?

Yes, the film is based on the 2021 science fiction novel Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the author also known for writing The Martian. The novel won the Hugo Award and was praised for its blend of scientifically rigorous storytelling, dry humor, and emotional depth. Weir himself has publicly endorsed the film adaptation after attending a screening.

When does Project Hail Mary release in theaters?

Project Hail Mary is scheduled for theatrical release on March 20, 2026 in the United States and Canada through Amazon MGM Studios. International distribution is handled by Sony Pictures Releasing International. The film runs 2 hours and 36 minutes and is rated PG-13.

Who is Rocky in Project Hail Mary?

Rocky is an alien character in Project Hail Mary who has also been sent on a solo mission to address the Astrophage crisis threatening his own planet. Rocky was physically built by legendary creature designer Neal Scanlan and his team and performed on set by puppeteer James Ortiz and his crew, who appeared alongside Ryan Gosling in every scene. Post-production animation from Framestore completed Rocky’s performance, blending practical and digital techniques.

Who wrote the screenplay for Project Hail Mary?

Drew Goddard wrote the screenplay. Goddard previously earned an Oscar nomination for adapting Andy Weir’s earlier novel The Martian into a screenplay for Ridley Scott’s 2015 film adaptation. His familiarity with Weir’s writing style and his track record with the material made him a natural choice for this project.

Who served as cinematographer on Project Hail Mary?

Greig Fraser, the Oscar-winning cinematographer behind Dune and The Batman, served as director of photography. Fraser shot the film using two distinct film stocks: one for the space-set sequences in full IMAX format and another for the Earth-based flashbacks in standard widescreen. This visual distinction reinforces the narrative contrast between past memory and present-day reality aboard the spacecraft.

What are critics saying about Project Hail Mary after early screenings?

First reactions from a February 25, 2026 press screening have been overwhelmingly positive, with many critics calling the film one of the best of 2026 and some describing it as a masterpiece. Ryan Gosling’s performance has drawn particular praise as a potential Best Actor contender. The bond between Grace and the alien Rocky has been described as the film’s emotional core, with several critics reporting they were moved to tears. A small number of observers noted the runtime feels slightly long and mentioned one omitted plot point from the novel.

Is Project Hail Mary similar to The Martian?

Both films are based on novels by Andy Weir and adapted by screenwriter Drew Goddard, and they share a tone that blends scientific problem-solving with character-driven humor. Project Hail Mary operates on a larger interstellar scale and features a non-human companion as a central character, which gives it a distinctly different emotional texture. Critics have compared the Grace-Rocky relationship more frequently to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial than to The Martian, pointing to its warmth and focus on cross-species friendship rather than solitary survival.