Project Hail Mary: Everything we know so far about Ryan Gosling's upcoming sci-fi movie

Ryan Gosling is heading back to space, and no, this isn’t First Man 2.0. Project Hail Mary, the hotly anticipated sci‑fi thriller based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, is gearing up for launch with Gosling in the lead, and the buzz is already out of this world.

With a top-tier creative team, a jaw-dropping plot involving a solo astronaut and an alien species, and a release date finally in sight, this one’s shaping up to be 2026’s most ambitious space odyssey. From the cast to the storyline to the trailer drop, here’s everything we know about Ryan Gosling’s next big sci-fi movie.

Release year of Project Hail Mary

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Project Hail Mary is based on Andy Weir's bestselling novel of the same name. Having written The Martian before, Weir's work is known for his science fiction novels and his blend of scientific thrillers with emotional drama. The film is being directed and produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, while Drew Goddard, known for his work on The Martian, is writing the script.

Project Hail Mary has already finished shooting. The shooting started on June 3, 2024, and is expected to wrap up in October 2024. Amazon's MGM Studios is distributing the film while eyeing a 2026 release date.

Cast details of Project Hail Mary

So far, the cast includes Gosling, returning to the big screen two years after his last acting stint with Emily Blunt on The Fall Guy. Other cast members include Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub.

What is the plot of Project Hail Mary?

Soon, a mysterious global dimming event threatens Earth with a catastrophic ice age within 30 years. Scientists trace the cause to a bright energy line from the Sun to Venus, inhabited by alien microbes. The organism, named Astrophage, consumes electromagnetic radiation and uses solar energy and carbon dioxide to reproduce. Former ESA administrator Eva Stratt has been given unilateral power to address the crisis. Ryland Grace, a schoolteacher and former molecular biologist, identifies the microbes' properties and discovers they can be used as powerful rocket fuel.

When astronomers find that nearby stars are also infected, except Tau Ceti, a mission is launched to uncover why. A spacecraft named Hail Mary is sent, but after the trained crew dies in an accident, Grace is forcibly added to the mission and sedated to prevent sabotage. He awakens years later, alone, with no memory. His crewmates are dead. As he regains his memory, Hail Mary reaches Tau Ceti and encounters an alien ship, Blip-A, from the Eridian species. Its lone survivor, Rocky, has been searching for a solution to the same problem. The two collaborate, discover a planet in Tau Ceti's orbit named Adrian, hosting a natural predator to Astrophage, Taumoeba, and bioengineer it to survive in both systems.

As Grace heads home, he realizes Rocky’s ship is in danger. He chooses to save Rocky, forfeiting his return to Earth. Sixteen years later, Grace lives on Erid, teaching young Eridians and surviving with their help. Rocky reveals that the Sun’s infection is gone, and Grace’s mission has succeeded. Now, with hope and enough knowledge, Grace considers returning to Earth.