Project Hail Mary (2026)
Based on the novel of the same name, Project Hail Mary is a rousing sci-fi adventure that will hopefully find an audience in theaters.
Ryan Gosling is Ryland Grace, a science teacher who wakes up on a spaceship after an induced coma. He doesn't remember anything initially, but his memories eventually come back and he realizes he was part of a desperation mission to the farthest reaches of space to find a solution to a mysterious substance that is killing stars and weakening the sun. If he does not succeed, life on Earth will slowly come to an end, with wars and starvation along the way. Eventually, Grace befriends an alien, who he dubs Rocky because of his appearance, who is also seeking a solution to the problem.
The source material is a novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. Both works share an ability to make practical scientific problem-solving exciting. Sequences such as the one where Grace and Rocky struggle to communicate with each other are both funny and logical. Even though the film clocks in at just over two-and-a-half hours, it is never boring. Even though Rocky is a special effect, he develops a genuine relationship with Grace over the course of the film.
Gosling also does excellent work as the lead. He is the rare Hollywood heartthrob who can be genuinely convincing as a dork. A late flashback also adds depth and complexity to his character beyond a simple reluctant hero.
Amazon/MGM
took a big swing on Project Hail Mary, which cost about $200 million to
make. Hopefully, audiences will show up for it in theaters, because, yes, it
should be seen on the big screen.
