‘Project Hail Mary’ Author Explains Spoiling the Alien in Trailers

Fans of Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary novel are well aware of all of the book’s thrilling reveals, but for those unaware, the upcoming Ryan Gosling-starring adaptation will feature a number of unexpected twists and turns. With two trailers having now been released, many of those familiar with the source material might be shocked that footage has already confirmed that Gosling’s Ryland Grace makes contact with an otherworldly being, though Weir himself supports this advanced confirmation. As a producer of the upcoming movie, which is directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Weir noted that the enjoyment of the movie won’t hinge entirely upon this reveal and he hopes the tease will result in even more audiences seeing the movie in theaters.

In a conversation with Polygon, Weir confessed that there were many conversations about when and how to reveal the alien life form, nicknamed “Rocky,” as he recalled:

“It’s really more a marketing decision by Amazon MGM, but the idea was no one’s going to walk into that theater and not know about Rocky … This is not a Darth Vader is Luke’s father kind of situation. This is a core, central element of the plot that everybody’s going to be talking about and that everybody who’s read the book already knows about.”

What Is ‘Project Hail Mary’ About?

Amazon MGM Studios

In the upcoming adaptation, Gosling stars as an astronaut who awakens in deep space on the vessel Hail Mary with no real memory of how he got there. Through the course of the adventure, he comes to realize that he’s the sole survivor of a mission to hopefully prevent a cataclysmic event that would result in another ice age.

Grace might not have any other human companions, but as the film’s latest trailer confirms, he’s got some intergalactic accomplices. Not only did Weir support the inclusion of Rocky in the film’s marketing materials, he even encouraged the inclusion, given how integral to the overall story and tone of the adventure this dynamic is. He noted:

“All trailers are designed to put butts in seats, and we want those butts in those seats … We want people to go, ‘Now I want to know what’s going on.’”

It’s not hard to generate too much excitement for a movie starring Gosling, who rarely fails to draw in an audience, while Project Hail Mary marks the first directorial feature from Lord and Miller since 2014’s 22 Jump Street. The pair were previously attached to Solo: A Star Wars Story and helmed that project through most of its production, only to depart before wrapping due to creative differences with Lucasfilm. Director Ron Howard would go on to complete Solo‘s principal photography and lead the film’s reshoots.

Gosling is no stranger to heading out into space, having starred in projects like Blade Runner 2049 and First Man. Project Hail Mary won’t conclude his time among the stars, as he’s set to make his debut in the galaxy far, far away with Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter. Project Hail Mary will land in theaters on March 20, 2026.

Project Hail Mary

Release Date: March 20, 2026
Runtime: 166 Minutes
Director: Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
Producers: Patricia Whitcher, Ryan Gosling, Amy Pascal, Andy Weir, Drew Goddard, Sarah Esberg, Ken Kao, Aditya Sood, Will Allegra