Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (of The Martian fame) has a movie adaptation that’s actively in the works even though the book hasn’t been released yet. It’s a project that’s coming together surprisingly quickly. Here’s what we know so far about the Project Hail Mary movie:
What’s it about? What’s the plot?
Project Hail Mary is about an astronaut who wakes up on a space ship alone, with no memory of how he got there and two dead crewmates. He soon discovers that he is the only person who can save humanity from extinction.
See the Full Review and Summary of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir from The Bibliofile.
What format will it be? Will the Project Hail Mary adaptation be a Movie or a Series?
It’s planned as a feature movie, set to be released in Spring 2026.
Who’s behind it?
Ryan Gosling will be producing the movie and starring in it as well. Amazon MGM acquired the project in a $3 million-dollar deal.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller are attached as directors for the movie and will serve as producers as well. Drew Goddard, previously nominated for an Oscar for his adaptation of Andy Weir’s The Martian, will be penning the adaptation.
Ryan Gosling in First Man
What’s the status of the Project Hail Mary adaptation?
The adaptation is currently in Pre-production.
In addition having been acquired by Amazon MGM, a director (Phil Lord & Chris Miller), screenwriter (Drew Goddard) and even the star of the movie (Ryan Gosling) are all in place.
Who’s in the cast?
Ryan Gosling will be starring as the main character in the movie. (He’s also producing the movie.) As of June 2020, he’s the only cast member attached to the project so far.
See the full cast (when available) on IMDB.
When will it be released?
March 20, 2026 is the current tentative release timeline.
Is there a trailer or teaser available?
Not yet! Stay tuned.
Project Hail Mary Movie Development Timeline
March 27, 2020 Ryan Gosling to produce and star in Project Hail Mary movie adaptation.
June 19, 2020 Screenwriter Drew Goddard has been tapped to pen the script for Project Hail Mary
May 4, 2021 Project Hail Mary (novel) to be released May 4, 2021 (Star Wars Day!)
April 18, 2024 ‘Project Hail Mary’ Sets Launch For Spring 2026; Space Adventure From Ryan Gosling, Lord & Miller, Amy Pascal & Amazon MGM Studios
I really hated The Martian for some reason I found it so boring, but this looks promising ! I never got round First Man but it wasn’t too long ago so I am surprised Ryan Gosling is doing something seemingly so similar. I can imagine every critic will be comparing the two performances !
If you didn’t like the Martian I doubt you will like this, it had the same humour of a lonely guy talking to himself.
I am sad that I have finished the book it is that good.
I am not convinced that a movie can do it justice.
just finished the book…..
movie question when when when
want now now now
(not me replying over a year after this comment was made be like:)
but yes yes yes I really really r e a l l y hope its out sometime soon 2023- I now feel like I’m going to hyperfocus on the book/movie after realizing there’s a movie/will be a movie (if it comes out anytime soon or already is, I’ll greatly appreciate it if I’m told 😭)
but I’m so sorry for the long comment :,)
Listening on audibles.
Movie should be fun, who will play Rocky and Dr Sratt??
I hope they do Rocky justice I loved them.
Only two candidates that I can think of with sufficient gravitas to play Stratt are Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren. Gonna be watching this closely!
I think Tilda Swinton would be good too!
I’ve read that Emma Stone is attached, but she could be Ilyukhina or Lokken, too.
(this is to ANONYMOUS btw) yes they better do Rocky justice- I love him (them?) so so so much 😭-
The author of Hail Mary tweeted that Emma will be apart of the movie but was tweeted on april 1st
The novel is terrific. I love the Jules Verne science lessons that are Andy Weir’s hallmark. However, I also think the script writer for the movie The Martian did a great job of condensing the plot while capturing the spirit of Andy’s first big hit. After all, “I’m going to have to science-the-shit of this” was not in the novel, but it is the perfect script line. But for this work of imagination, a great script won’t be enough. To capture the deep friendship between Grace & Rocky, the movie will have to take us to a place Avatar didn’t. There was little interaction between human and CGI avatar in that movie. Mary Poppins interacted with the birds a little but this movie will have to take us where no movie has gone before — and not just a little!! Good luck and I can’t wait to see what the writers and the CGI geniuses create.
So far I have read half of the novel. I hope the movie is as good as the novel is. If so, it will be another winner like the Martian. A very good read.
I just finished the book this morning after having read half the night nearly to the end. I cried the entire time reading the last 28 pages, it moved me so much! It’s a marvelous book, and I am grateful to Andy for a sci fi story that isn’t a depressing vision of a dystopian future. Bravo! Can’t wait for the movie, and Ryan Gosling is a great pick for Dr. Grace. Who will play Rocky?? I’m in love with the two of them.
I read “Project Hail Mary” in July 2021. Loved it. I don’t know how this book can be squeezed into a movie. I think it would take a mini-series to do it justice.
definitely
Great novel…I miss the characters after finishing it. After reading it, I re-read it together with my 10yro son (who also enjoyed The Martian movie).
I’m happy to see that a movie adaptation is coming…I think it will be fun to revisit the story. I’m sad to have to wait for an unknown amount of time…but I’ve survived the ~18yr wait to see the final installment of The Matrix 4 (way underrated IMO).
Just give me the tentative release date. If it’s 2024, I’ll get in line right now.
**ahem** I shall join you, good sir🚶🏽
I feel like the most important piece to this movie will be the musical composer, being that Rocky’s whole language is based on musical tunes. There could be some really cool musical effects that add to the story if a good composer is chosen
Agreed. There’s a few names who come to mind, but I can’t go past Ludwig Göransson.
And while I don’t know quite how to achieve it, it’d be wonderful to somehow capture Bill Conti’s themes from the Rocky movie series, given the obvious choice to name the planet after his partner as Adrian is meant to reference the film (but only as a cheeky nod).
oh lord now I’m imagining all the plausibilites and now I’m just gonna hyperfocus on the movie/book more- 🥲/pos
aaaaa I forgot some comas- I just cannot language at all 💀
This should not be a feature movie. There is way too much story to fit in a 2-3 hour flick. It definitely should be streamed as a series
I read the book and loved it. Some parts I could not quite understand because it was over my head but I don’t care. I LOVED THE BOOK. I can’t wait for the movie to come out. Not giving anything away, you will love the characters, just open up your imagination and enjoy what could be. Love, Love, Love.
I also love love love so much 💃🏽 /nm