"Project Hail Mary" Trailer: Ryan Gosling Wakes Up Alone in Deep Space in Andy Weir’s Sci-Fi Survival Thriller from Directors Lord & Miller
Gosling stars as a memory-wiped science teacher turned reluctant astronaut on a one-way mission to save Earth in this interstellar epic based on The Martian author Andy Weir's best-seller.
Imagine waking up with no memory. Terrifying, right?
Now imagine waking up on a spacecraft—alone, disoriented, and hurtling through deep space. You don’t know your name, your mission, or how you got there. Suddenly, “terrifying” doesn’t quite cut it. It’s existentially horrifying.
That’s the setup for this new sci-fi space thriller, where one man (Ryan Gosling) must unravel the mystery of his own identity and save not only himself but possibly all of humanity... before time runs out.
Now, if Project Hail Mary feels a little similar to, say, The Martian, there’s a reason for that. Both films are based on the best-selling novels by author Andy Weir, who has become something of a modern master of space-bound suspense. Weir has carved out a niche for himself with tales of isolated protagonists using science, wit, and sheer willpower to survive against impossible odds—whether it’s being stranded on Mars or, in this case, hurtling through space on a one-way mission with humanity’s fate hanging in the balance.
In the upcoming film, Gosling (who once played famed astronaut Neil Armstrong in Damien Chazelle's space race biopic First Man) takes on the role of Ryland Grace, a middle-school science teacher who becomes an accidental astronaut.
Unlike Armstrong, however, Ryland isn’t a trained pilot or military hero. He’s a reluctant space traveler thrust into an interstellar mission after Earth faces a catastrophic energy crisis. With no memory of how he got to space, Ryland must rely on his scientific smarts and problem-solving instincts as his memories slowly resurface. And as the memories of his past return, so does the terrifying truth: the sun is dying, Earth is on the brink of extinction, and he’s the sole survivor of a desperate mission to stop it. It’s a Hail Mary, indeed.
Laden with flashbacks, the film’s newly released trailer (watch it above) hints at Ryland’s recruitment to the mission, with acclaimed German actress Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest) playing the lead government recruiter who handpicks him for the job.
“You are the only scientist who might know what this is,” she tells him.
“I’m just a teacher at Grover Cleveland Middle,” Ryland replies, baffled.
She goes on to explain that the sun is dying, along with other major stars in the galaxy—except for one. That single star, located 11.9 light-years away, is still burning bright. The mission: travel there, figure out why, and hopefully find a solution to save the rest. The catch? Because the voyage will take so long, it’s essentially a one-way trip.
“It’s what you Americans would call a ‘long shot’,” Hüller’s character says.
Ryland gently corrects her: “Hail Mary. I get it.”
In addition to Gosling and Hüller, the film also features Milana Vayntrub (Werewolves Within), Lionel Boyce (from FX’s The Bear), and Ken Leung (from HBO’s Industry and Lost).
Filmmaker Drew Goddard, who adapted Andy Weir’s The Martian for director Ridley Scott, also wrote the adapted screenplay for Project Hail Mary. Goddard also serves as executive producer, working alongside producer Amy Pascal.
The film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the same filmmaking duo behind the animated hits Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Lord and Miller are also known for helming the wildly successful comedy blockbusters 21 Jump Street and its sequel 22 Jump Street, both of which showcased their knack for mixing sharp humor with heartfelt camaraderie.
Of course, their name also made headlines when they were infamously fired from Solo: A Star Wars Story after months into production. It was an unexpected departure that only added to their reputation as unconventional filmmakers willing to take creative risks, even if it meant clashing with studio executives and higher-ups.
With Project Hail Mary, Lord and Miller make their return to the director’s chair for the first time since that very public exit in 2017. The film also marks their first completed feature as directors since 2014's 22 Jump Street, though they were heavily involved as creative supervisors and producers on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (and its sequel), earning them an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Filmed for IMAX, Project Hail Mary is scheduled to open nationwide on March 20th, 2026.
Official Synopsis:
Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone.
