Introduction to Project Hail Mary

A few short weeks ago, the renowned directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller gifted us with an extended first look at their upcoming sci-fi adaptation, Project Hail Mary. The three-minute trailer, which was released for a movie not coming out for nine months, exuded supreme confidence in the project. After watching it, it was clear why they were so optimistic.

San Diego Comic-Con Panel

To further build excitement, the film was brought to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, along with its iconic star Ryan Gosling. This move felt almost excessive, given the glorious trailer we had already seen. However, Lord, Miller, and Gosling were joined by author Andy Weir to discuss all things Project Hail Mary and showcase a substantial amount of new footage. The crowd was thoroughly enthralled, and our anticipation for the film has grown significantly.

New Footage

We were treated to over 10 minutes of new footage from the film, all of which was from the first third of the movie. Although it seemed like a lot was being revealed, apparently, it was not. The first scene was the opening five minutes of the movie, where an elaborate claw machine wakes up Dr. Ryland Grace (Gosling) from deep cryosleep. He is disoriented and struggles to respond to the machine’s questions. The machine attempts to aid him in his awakening but he becomes frantic. He eventually stumbles upon a ladder, climbs it, and discovers the lifeless pods of his colleagues. Upon reaching the top, he realizes he is in space, which fills him with terror.

More Scenes from the Film

The second scene takes place on Earth, where Ryland is approached by Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller) at his school. She informs him about a mysterious substance found on the surface of the sun and requests his expertise. The scene then cuts to Ryland in a remote lab, where he is tasked with examining the substance. He has a eureka moment when he discovers that it is a cell, indicating first contact with an alien species. However, his excitement is short-lived as he realizes the cell has died.

The third scene finds Ryland in space, where he has become accustomed to his surroundings. The ship stops, and he experiences zero gravity for the first time, which causes him to panic. He eventually calms down and observes an alien spaceship approaching his craft. The final scene shows Ryland connecting with the alien ship, where he attempts to communicate with the alien. The alien creates a cutout of a human and its ship, trying to convey a message. Ryland is unsure how to respond and ultimately decides to return to his ship.

-balancing Humor and Drama

Each of the scenes did an excellent job of balancing humor and drama, making the film even more intriguing. Lord and Miller, with Gosling’s help, seem to have found the perfect balance. The combination of practical and digital effects brings the alien, Rocky, to life, leaving us more than encouraged.

Growing Excitement

From the moment we read Project Hail Mary, through the early look at CinemaCon, and now the Hall H panel, our excitement for the project has only grown. We are eager to embark on this journey. Written by Drew Goddard, based on the novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary is set to open on March 20.

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