Ryan Gosling’s Sci-Fi Movie Based On A Best-Selling Novel Gives The Martian A Run For Its Money

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Following the huge success of the movie The Martian, there’s a lot of excitement for author Andy Weir’s next book-to-film project, Project Hail Mary. The novel, released in 2021, quickly became a bestseller, debuting at number 3 on the New York Times list and remaining a popular sci-fi title throughout the 2020s.

The upcoming movie adaptation of Project Hail Mary, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and starring Ryan Gosling, aims to be more than just a copy of The Martian. It’s not trying to simply repeat the success of that film, and early reactions – even from the author of Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir – suggest fans will enjoy this new adaptation.

What Is Project Hail Mary About?

In Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a teacher who wakes up on a spaceship lost in space with no memory of his identity or purpose. As his memories return, he pieces together the details of his mission and the critical scientific issue he’s been tasked with resolving.

This story combines the thrill of a survival tale with the intrigue of a scientific mystery. Similar to the author’s other books, it focuses on how characters use clever thinking, testing, and science to overcome challenges, rather than relying on dramatic action.

Most notably, Project Hail Mary isn’t limited to one place or problem. Though feeling alone is still central to the story, the book’s design lets it delve into science, making new discoveries, and working together. We see Grace’s story unfold through both memories of the past and events happening in the present.

How Project Hail Mary Is Different From The Martian

Many people have compared Project Hail Mary to The Martian, the movie starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars. Just like Mark Watney in The Martian who had to use his scientific knowledge to survive, the protagonist of Project Hail Mary, Ryland Grace, finds himself stranded in the dangerous environment of space and must rely on science to survive and overcome a larger problem.

Andy Weir has said that writing Project Hail Mary allowed him to expand the scope of his science fiction. Although the book still focuses on realistic science and figuring things out, Weir explained in an interview with Shelf Media Group that he wanted to emphasize exploration and uncovering new information as the story progressed.

Both The Martian and Project Hail Mary showcase incredible problem-solving, but they focus on different aspects of the human spirit. The Martian highlights how people overcome challenges with cleverness, while Project Hail Mary emphasizes the power of wonder, connection, and the struggle to grasp complex ideas on your own. This shift in focus is why Project Hail Mary feels like a companion piece to The Martian, rather than simply being overshadowed by it.

Ryan Gosling Is Coming For Sci-Fi In 2026

Ryan Gosling has experience with science fiction, having appeared in films like Blade Runner 2049 with Harrison Ford and First Man, where he played Neil Armstrong. He now continues to choose roles in projects like Project Hail Mary that combine exciting, large-scale stories with thoughtful, emotionally subtle performances. This makes him perfectly suited for the type of science fiction written by Andy Weir.

After his success in Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling will next star in Star Wars: Starfighter, a new, standalone Star Wars movie directed by Shawn Levy. Filming has finished, and the movie is now in post-production, with a planned release in theaters in May 2027.

We’re starting to see the first official photos and glimpses from behind the scenes, and it won’t be long before Lucasfilm launches a full marketing campaign with trailers, posters, and appearances at fan events.

These two films showcase Ryan Gosling’s range in science fiction, moving between stories focused on realistic science and grand, mythical adventures. If Project Hail Mary proves as inventive as The Martian, it could establish Gosling as a go-to leading actor in the sci-fi genre.

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2026-01-11 20:55