Ryan Gosling saves humanity in space. The film Project Hail Mary teases its first trailer, promising a mix of Interstellar and The Martian

Amazon MGM Studios yesterday released the first trailer for one of the most anticipated sci-fi films of next year. Project Hail Mary will take us aboard a spaceship nearly 12 light-years from Earth and introduce us to a science teacher who definitely didn’t aspire to become an astronaut. The main role is played by Ryan Gosling, whose character is tasked with finding out why the Sun is dying and thus saving all of humanity.

The trailer offers us a glimpse of teacher Ryland Grace, who wakes up with a thick beard on a spaceship, without remembering how he got there. Gradually, his memories return, revealing a terrifying truth – the stars in our galaxy, including our Sun, are slowly fading. The only exception is a single star in the Tau Ceti system. And it is Grace, who in addition to his teaching degree also has a doctorate in molecular biology, who is sent on a mission to find out why.

When scientist Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller) offers him participation in the rescue mission, Grace immediately protests. His reluctance to become an astronaut is one of the comedic elements hinted at in the trailer, reminiscent of Gosling’s characteristic humor known from his previous roles.

A Space Friendship That Could Save Two Planets

As Grace tries to figure out how to save Earth from apocalypse, the trailer hints at his biggest surprise – he’s not alone. At a certain point, he discovers an alien being, which fans of the book call “Rocky”. This unexpected companion comes from a planet facing the same threat as Earth, and so these two representatives of different worlds unite in an effort to find a solution to their common problem.

This aspect of the film suggests that it won’t just be another space survival story like in The Martian, but a deeper story about interspecies friendship. Rocky is only briefly hinted at in the trailer, creating another reason to anticipate how this alien being will be portrayed in the film.

Star-Studded Cast and Crew

At the helm are directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, known for animated hits like The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The screenplay was written by Drew Goddard, who also adapted Andy Weir’s previous bestseller (The Martian). The film adaptation of that book, starring Matt Damon, was a huge success and received seven Oscar nominations.

Alongside Gosling, other roles will feature German actress Sandra Hüller, who shone last year in the film Anatomy of a Fall, as well as Lionel Boyce known from the series The Bear, Ken Leung from Industry, and Milana Vayntrub. Behind the camera is Greig Fraser, an Oscar winner for cinematography on the film Dune.

At CinemaCon in April, Ryan Gosling described the film as an “incredibly ambitious story with a massive scope”. According to him, it’s so grand that “we tried putting it on a TV once and it didn’t fit.”

Interstellar Meets The Martian

Even from the first trailer, it’s clear that Project Hail Mary combines elements of two famous sci-fi hits of recent years. From Interstellar, it takes the premise of a space mission aimed at saving humanity from an apocalyptic threat, while from The Martian, it borrows a humorous approach to space survival and scientific problem-solving.

Ryan Gosling saves humanity in space. The film Project Hail Mary teases its first trailer, promising a mix of Interstellar and The Martian Jakub Kárník News Jakub Kárník News

Given that both Project Hail Mary and The Martian were written by the same author and the screenplays for both films were adapted by the same screenwriter, a similar approach to scientific details and balancing tension with humor can be expected. At the same time, however, it adds a completely new element – an alien being and interspecies friendship.

The Book Source and Expectations

The novel Project Hail Mary was published in 2021 and quickly became a bestseller. Andy Weir, the author of the book, is known for his emphasis on scientific accuracy and realistic problem-solving in space. His previous novel, The Martian, became a literary phenomenon, and its film adaptation was both commercially successful and critically acclaimed.

While The Martian focused on the survival of one man on Mars, Project Hail Mary expands the horizons to interstellar travel and encountering an alien civilization. The story offers a mix of adventure, scientific problem-solving, and philosophical questions about humanity and its place in the universe.

Given the success of The Martian, expectations for this adaptation are high. With a star-studded cast, experienced directors, and quality source material, the film has all the prerequisites to become one of the biggest sci-fi hits of next year.

Release Date

Project Hail Mary will hit cinemas on March 20, 2026, including the IMAX format. So, we still have quite a long wait, but according to the first footage, it will be worth it. For fans of sci-fi, space adventures, and Ryan Gosling, the film has logically joined the ranks of the most anticipated titles of next year.

It is not yet clear whether the film will have a Czech premiere or other special screenings. Distribution in the Czech Republic should be handled by Falcon, which has already listed the film on its website under the Czech title Spasitel.

How excited are you for the new film Project Hail Mary?

Source: YouTube, ČSFD