Chennai, March 17 Actor Ryan Gosling, who plays the lead role in the highly anticipated sci-fi film "Project Hail Mary" directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, has revealed that he received the film's script at the very beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, when productions around the world were shutting down and theaters were closing, creating significant uncertainty about the future of large-scale filmmaking.
Sources close to the actor revealed that in early 2020, author Andy Weir, best known for his bestselling novel "The Martian," shared an early draft of his new book with Ryan Gosling. The request was straightforward but ambitious: Weir wanted Gosling not only to star in the film adaptation but also to serve as a producer.
Gosling reportedly read the script in one sitting and was immediately drawn to the scope of the story and the humanity of its central character.
Gosling vividly recalls the moment. "I was getting the opportunity to create the most epic theatrical experience of my life, and theaters were closed," he says. "But I felt that the story's message resonated deeply with what the world was going through."
Reflecting on the role, Gosling says, "It's such an epic journey. And Ryland Grace is not stoic in any way. He's not brave in any traditional sense, and he doesn't have any illusions about being a hero. But he keeps trying."
Based on Weir's bestselling novel, the film follows a lone astronaut who awakens aboard a mysterious spacecraft with no memory of who he is or the mission that brought him there – only to discover that he may be humanity's last hope to save Earth.
The ambitious sci-fi story comes to life through acclaimed filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who promise a thrilling blend of science, spectacle, and heartfelt storytelling. The film also features a stellar supporting cast, including Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub, adding further depth to the high-stakes adventure.
Presented by Amazon MGM Studios and distributed by Sony Pictures International Releasing, "Project Hail Mary" is set to release in India on March 26 in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.