Ryan Gosling takes on an unexpected role as a nerdy, reluctant astronaut in Project Hail Mary, an upcoming sci-fi adventure film teased by Amazon MGM Studios during its CinemaCon presentation on Wednesday. The film, based on Andy Weir’s best-selling novel, follows Gosling’s character, a science teacher turned astronaut, who is tasked with a mission that could mean his life—or the end of humanity.
“I put the ‘not’ in astronaut,” Gosling quips in the trailer, as his character, facing a dire situation, is recruited by a government handler (Sandra Hüller) for a perilous space journey. “I can’t even moonwalk,” he adds, emphasizing his reluctance to embark on the suicidal mission.
Despite his hesitations, the film’s plot quickly makes it clear that the stakes are high: Earth is on the brink of a catastrophic disaster, and Gosling’s character, though uncertain of his abilities, may be the planet’s last hope. “The world is counting on you,” Hüller’s character tells him, a sentiment echoed in the emotional trailer that plays to the sounds of Harry Styles’ hit “Sign of the Times.”
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller—the duo behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street—the film promises a blend of humor and grand-scale spectacle. The script is written by Drew Goddard, who previously adapted Weir’s The Martian into a hit film starring Matt Damon. Like The Martian, Project Hail Mary combines humor with space-bound drama to explore the journey of an ordinary man thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
“It’s an insanely ambitious story that’s massive in scope, and it seemed really hard to make, and that’s kind of our bag,” Gosling said, sharing the footage at CinemaCon. He also added, “This is why we go to the movies,” noting that he is not only starring in but also producing the film.
The film’s rights sparked a bidding war, with MGM Studios, pre-sale to Amazon, purchasing them for $3 million. Gosling, fresh off the success of Barbie (2023), is poised to deliver another star-making performance, despite the mixed reception of his recent project, The Fall Guy, which failed to make a significant impact at the box office.
Set for release in theaters on March 20, 2026, Project Hail Mary marks Amazon MGM Studios’ commitment to theater releases, with the company promising to bring more than a dozen films to the big screen. This commitment was emphasized by Gosling, Lord, and Miller, who all urged the audience to experience the film as it was intended—on the big screen.
“We tried to put it on a TV once and it didn’t fit,” Gosling joked, underscoring the film’s larger-than-life scale and cinematic aspirations.
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