When the world is full of darkness and existential threat, how can science fiction adapt? When Earth can be more frightening than space, how can we tell captivating stories that take place beyond our world? You go the other way; you make them heartwarming. That’s exactly what Phil Lord and Chris Miller did.
“Project Hail Mary” is a sci-fi film based on the novel of the same title, released in March 2026, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Lord and Miller.
The movie starts with Grace, played by Gosling, waking up in space and having no recollection of how he got there. After discovering he’s on a mission to save Earth from a sun-consuming microbe, Grace must overcome odds, finding a best friend along the way.
“Project Hail Mary” has a unique take on the sci-fi genre, as instead of showing invading aliens like in “Independence Day” or saviors of humanity like in “Arrival,” the human main protagonist and his space-found alien friend have to work together and join forces to save their respective species.
The tone of the movie is also less serious, with the main character’s witty personality and often funny responses, well portrayed by the naturally charming Gosling, which adds a comedic flair to the more serious theme.
The thought-out world-building of the science and of the alien’s culture and biology is also something to note. For example, the alien, called Rocky by Grace, is shown living in an environment filled with ammonia, with oxygen being toxic for him. Instances like this make the sci-fi feel more realistic, helping the audience immerse themselves in the created world.
Another unique take has to do with the main character himself. Instead of following the traditional “stoic superhero” archetype, Grace is a much more relatable person with flaws. When the scientists and most of the prepared astronauts are accidentally killed in an explosion, Grace is the only scientist remaining who can save the world.
The movie dives into complex situations, as Grace is sedated and forced to make it on the one-way mission, but having to face a situation that is out of his hands, Grace finds the strength and courage to save humanity.
You would think he would want to be part of the Earth’s heroes, but he cowers down, as the mission also makes it clear that it is a one-way trip. This allows the main character to develop and grow throughout the story. It is very exciting to see a main character that shows real and raw emotions, as the audience can relate to the fact that having to leave your life in order to save the world can be a tough decision to make.
It is very comforting to watch Grace and Rocky’s relationship unfold. Both have similar experiences, their crew members die, and they are forced to be alone. Rocky the alien is not endearing just because of his pure-hearted personality, but also because he was the first one to make contact with Grace, even when Grace was scared and tried to escape him at first.
This is a beautiful lesson; sometimes in our own lives we have to deal with loneliness, but if we are brave enough to make the first move, we open ourselves to new adventures, relationships and experiences that we otherwise wouldn’t have known if we had never tried.
It is refreshing to see more emotionally impactful sci-fi films being made, because it shows that just because it deals with a more realistic world-building, it doesn’t mean that the characters and the plot have to be very “left-brained.” Having an emotional story with flawed humans that teach valuable lessons only makes the fictional world richer and unforgettable.
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This larger-than-life odyssey is worth watching on the big screen. Even though at face value it seems like a charismatic and inspiring movie, it has a profound message for our current times: being open-minded to understand and get along with someone different than you and with a different perspective in life, which is important for community building, and even as far as having to save humanity.
Paulina Acosta-Marta is a freelance photographer for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
