Project Hail Mary is a new sci-fi movie releasing in March of 2026 that is all but guaranteed to delight audiences around the world. Between the plot, the pedigree, and the star, this film is already destined for greatness. If you haven’t already heard about it, it’s time we change that. And if you haven’t already gotten excited about it, it’s time you start.
Project Hail Mary is already one of the can’t-miss movies of 2026
Ryan Gosling will be in his comfort zone
Project Hail Mary is based on the book of the same name by author Andy Weir, about a biologist-turned-middle school teacher named Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) who wakes up on a spaceship in deep space with no memory of how he got there. Part of me wants to leave it there and let you discover the rest for yourself, but the trailers spoil a lot of the details so I don’t feel like I need to stay quiet.
Grace is the only member of his crew who has survived a trip to a nearby star. He’s here to gather data about why this star, unlike our own sun, is NOT dimming to the point where it threatens all life on nearby planets, including Earth. Although his crew is gone, Grace isn’t alone; he meets a space alien he names Rocky who is here to study this star for the same reasons as Grace. Their working relationship forms the backbone of much of what happens in Project Hail Mary, and the trailers are good enough not to spoil those parts.
Although you might not think it immediately, Ryan Gosling is the perfect actor to anchor this project. A lot of the movie is him alone in the depths of space, so he has to be compelling and likable, something Gosling has proved he can do in movies like Drive, The Fall Guy, and Barbie, where he basically stole the show from the title character as Ken. Gosling also loves appearing in science fiction films, from Blade Runner 2049 to the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter to First Man, a biopic about Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. That movie almost feels like training for Project Hail Mary, where he’ll be traveling a whole lot further.
The pedigree on Project Hail Mary is insane
Everyone is bringing their A game
Project Hail Mary is Andy Weir’s third novel. His first, The Martian, was turned into a movie back in 2015, and was a huge hit. Project Hail Mary shares a lot of similarities with that book, which was also about a guy who has to make due when he finds himself in a strange alien environment, only this time it’s Ryan Gosling instead of Matt Damon and the Tau Ceti star system instead of Mars.
The Martian was famous for being meticulously researched, which isn’t always a given in this genre; just as there are precious few time travel movies that actually try and get the details right, there aren’t a lot of sci-fi films that actually feel scientifically plausible, but Andy Weir makes a point of it. Plus, the script for Project Hail Mary is being written by the same guy who wrote The Martian, Drew Goddard, so we can expect a similar level of fidelity and polish.
As for the director, Project Hail Mary has Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who made big splashes years ago with movies like Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, and The LEGO Movie, and who then basically disappeared from the director’s chair for a decade. (To be fair, they’ve been producing up a storm and are two of the most important creatives behind the hugely popular Spider-Verse movies, so it’s hardly like they’ve been lazy.) They’re finally returning for Project Hail Mary.
Basically, Project Hail Mary has something of a dream team behind it. It’s looking like an approachable, big-budget, scientifically literate sci-fi epic held down by one of the most likable leading men in the business. It’s Hollywood’s dream come true, and I’m pretty psyched about it too.
Project Hail Mary will start the new year right
Ryan Gosling may be on a one-man mission to save sci-fi
Project Hail Mary is coming out in theaters on March 20, 2026. I predict glowing reviews and a big haul. It could mark the start of a very big year for sci-fi at the movies. We’ve also got The Mandalorian & Grogu coming out in May, and hopefully Dune: Part Three at the end of the year. And as I mentioned, Ryan Gosling himself will return to sci-fi in Star Wars: Starfighter in 2027. If there’s anybody who can save that teetering franchise, it’s him.
But as fun as those movies sound, there’s something especially exciting about Project Hail Mary, since it’s a completely original story not tied to any big IP. I’m always in favor of any movie that can succeed on its own merits, and I think this one stands a strong chance.
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Sci-fi all over
If you can’t get enough of these sci-fi movies, you can always dive deeper and read the books they’re based on. 2026 will also be a big year for sci-fi TV shows, so there’ll be plenty to keep fans entertained, no matter your medium of choice.
- Release Date
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March 20, 2026
- Runtime
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166 Minutes
- Director
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Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
- Writers
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Drew Goddard, Andy Weir
- Producers
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Patricia Whitcher, Ryan Gosling, Amy Pascal, Andy Weir, Drew Goddard, Sarah Esberg, Ken Kao, Aditya Sood, Will Allegra
