Project Hail Mary (2026)
Content by Tony Macklin. Originally published on April 6, 2026 @ tonymacklin.net.
Project Hail Mary joins other unexpected films that become very popular with audiences.
Three films that share its qualities are About a Boy (2002), Gran Torino (2008), and Hidden Figures (2017). All three were surprise hits.
With Project Hail Mary, they all share the major themes of communication and conflict. The protagonists have to make hard decisions, even Clint Eastwood's cranky racist character.
They also all are engaging and credible. At times, you have to suspend your disbelief, but the credibility prevails.
Project Hail Mary is the story of astronaut Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) who wakes up from an medically-induced coma on a spaceship light years from earth. His two crewmates are dead.
He has no memories of what happened or why he is there. Gradually he begins to remember. Flashbacks show he rejected the mission, but was knocked out and put on board in a four year coma, due to the project director Eva Stratt (Sandra Huller). She is more a pragmatist than a villain.
His mission is to save the earth. Astrophages are eating the sun's radiation, which eventually will destroy the earth. Only one planet seems immune to the effects, and Grace's mission is to find out why.
On his way Grace sees another spaceship - this one alien - on the same mission to save his doomed planet. He meets a creature that he names Rocky. Rocky is like a rock. He is faceless and has 5 legs. Eventually, they become fast friends.
The casting is a marvel. Gosling captures the imperfect humanity of Grace. The 45-year old who captured hearts in The Notebook (2004) is in the best role of his life and he nails it.
Sandra Huller gives depth to the character of the director of the project.
The remarkable creation of Rocky is due to the first-rate crew, led and voiced by James Ortiz. Ortiz says one of his inspirations for Rocky was baby owls.
Ortiz works for the company that created Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).
Rocky and Rocket are very dissimilar characters. But both bring consequential energy and spirit to their films.
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have made a winsome, intelligent film. The screenplay by Drew Goddard is adapted from Andrew Weir's novel.
As the sun dims in recent films, Project Hail Mary makes it shine again.
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