“So Good, So Good, So Good!” of “Project Hail Mary”

The film adaptation of Andy Weir’s acclaimed sci-fi novel of the same name, 〈Project Hail Mary〉, drew more than 76,000 viewers on its opening day in Korea—setting a new record for the best opening by a foreign film in 2026. Even before it reached domestic theaters, 〈Project Hail Mary〉 was already racking up praise from overseas critics. Back home as well, it’s posting solid scores in the 9-range across three theater chains and keeping the box-office momentum going strong. Riding the wave of all this buzz, we dug into a range of behind-the-scenes tidbits surrounding the film, including on-set surprises from 〈Project Hail Mary〉.

The origins of 〈Project Hail Mary〉 stretch back to 2020—before the original novel was even officially published. Andy Weir delivered an unfinished manuscript to actor Ryan Gosling and pitched the idea of turning it into a film. Once Gosling started reading, he tore through the script in one sitting. So completely taken with the material, he signed on without hesitation—not just as the star, but also as a producer. Explaining his decision, Gosling said, “It’s a work that captures an epic journey. I thought I’d finally gotten the chance to produce the biggest-scale project of my life.” He added, “Because it looked almost impossible, we needed the best experts in the industry,” highlighting that top-tier Hollywood production teams—such as the Lord&Miller duo, 〈Mars〉, 〈Dune〉, and 〈Guardians of the Galaxy〉—came together specifically for this project.

Sony Pictures has unveiled a brand-new poster for 〈Project Hail Mary〉, and it’s strikingly similar to the poster for Ryan Gosling’s previous film, 〈La La Land〉. The result feels totally on-point—a playful, “can’t-stop-thinking-about-it” promotional run. In the purple night sky, countless stars twinkle, while Ryan Gosling performs a signature dance move under the glow of a streetlamp. But beside him isn’t Emma Stone—it’s 〈Project Hail Mary〉’s alien companion, Rocky. In particular, the dance lands especially well because the poster positions it like a symbolic link between Grace (Ryan Gosling) and Rocky’s bromance. And there’s more. Even the text on the poster has been reshaped, with careful details—and a couple of laughs along the way. On the 〈La La Land〉 poster, the line “Here’s to the fools who dream.” is reworked on the 〈Project Hail Mary〉 poster into “Believe in the Hail Mary,” as if the two characters are talking directly to you—sure to bring a smile. With a hype poster like this, how could you not believe?

In the film, Sandra Hüller sings “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles. The scene does more than peel back a corner of Stratt’s inner self—an ice-cold character who refuses to be swayed by emotion—it also marks a turning point in the relationship between Stratt and Grace. However, this pivotal dramatic moment wasn’t in the original script; it was created based on Sandra Hüller’s suggestion. Strong support from Sandra Hüller’s daughter also helped make it happen. In various interviews, Hüller said, “When I told my daughter about that song, she urged me to make sure we had to do it.” In the end, Sandra and her teen daughter’s pop sensibilities helped shape the film’s emotional high point. After hearing Hüller sing live on set, Ryan Gosling said, “It was a moment I never saw coming—one that made me read the character differently.” Gosling also produced a comedic moment on SNL, performing the song himself in front of the track’s original artist, Harry Styles.

The great friendship between human Grace and the alien species Rocky—transcending species boundaries—was brought to life with a technical setup designed for real interaction. On the live filming set, Rocky was built up scene by scene so the actor could respond directly and physically to the character. The production relied on puppets (dolls or objects controlled by a puppeteer on set) along with advanced animatronics—systems that blend animation with electronics, using electronic control and mechanical devices so the puppet or robot moves naturally, as if alive. This made it far easier for the actor to stay emotionally engaged while delivering the performance, instead of simply staring at empty space in front of a green screen. Director Christopher Miller explained, “There were moments Ryan Gosling could capture that simply wouldn’t have happened if he’d been talking to a tennis ball.” In particular, these methods helped realize the first time Grace meets Rocky in the tunnel connecting the Hail Mary spacecraft to Rocky’s ship—where the chemistry has to land instantly.