Ryan Gosling is heading to space—and not exactly by choice. The first trailer for Project Hail Mary, the highly anticipated sci-fi adaptation of Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, is finally here. Set to premiere in theaters and IMAX on March 20, 2026, the film comes from Amazon MGM Studios and marks the first feature co-directed by 21 Jump Street duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in nearly a decade.
The supporting cast includes Lionel Boyce (The Bear), Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), Liz Kingsman (F1), Milana Vayntrub (This Is Us), and Ken Leung (Industry).
The film stars Gosling as Ryland Grace, a sixth-grade science teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there. Slowly, he remembers: he’s humanity’s last hope in a desperate mission to save Earth. A mysterious phenomenon is dimming the sun, threatening extinction on a global scale—and he’s been launched 11.9 light-years from home on what can only be described as a “Hail Mary” play to fix it.
“I put the ‘not’ in ‘astronaut!’” Gosling’s character stressfully states in the trailer, delivering the blend of wry humor and scientific smarts that made Weir’s The Martian a breakout hit.
Project Hail Mary brings together a powerhouse creative team. The screenplay is penned by Drew Goddard, who previously adapted The Martian for the screen. Producers include Gosling himself, and the film also marks the return of Lord and Miller—whose sharp comedic sensibilities and storytelling chops have been missed since their work on The LEGO Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
More Than a Space Mission
While comparisons to The Martian are inevitable, Project Hail Mary goes deeper. It’s not just about a man surviving in space—it’s a story of connection, memory, and the odd companionship that forms between Grace and an alien he names “Rocky.”
The trailer teases that bond, with Gosling quipping, “He’s kinda growing on me. At least he’s not growing in me, which was a concern for a little while.”
Weir’s novel was celebrated for its blend of rigorous science, high-stakes action, and emotional resonance. If the film stays true to the source, audiences can expect all of that and more—plus Gosling delivering a performance packed with both charm and vulnerability.
Project Hail Mary hits theaters and IMAX on March 20, 2026.
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