The first official trailer for Project Hail Mary has been released that highlights Ryan Gosling in a dramatic science-fiction role which has some serious stakes.
The film, based on the best-selling novel by The Martian author Andy Weir, is set to be released in theaters and IMAX on March 20, 2026.
Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a former schoolteacher who wakes up on a spacecraft, alone, with no memories of how he got there. With slow flashes of memory, he begins to realize he has been sent on an urgent mission to save Earth from a baffling cosmic threat that is dimming the sun and other stars.
The trailer also showcases Grace's disorientation, diligence, and amusing quirkiness while enduring insurmountable odds millions of miles from his home planet.
Gosling will blend suspense with levity that audiences will appreciate, especially his first contact with an alien life form. His character is not an astronaut, nor is he a patient figure, therefore the stakes are inherent in the filmmaking itself.
As Gosling's character pointedly exclaims in the trailer, "I'm not an astronaut", the humor in that statement becomes apparent throughout the trailer, especially given its central plot of a mission leading to the ultimate fate of humanity.
11.9 Light-years from home.
— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) June 30, 2025
6th grade science teacher.
1 chance to save us all.
Watch the trailer for Project Hail Mary – based on the novel by Andy Weir, starring Ryan Gosling, and directed by filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Only in theaters and IMAX - 3.20.26 pic.twitter.com/hOHBqnSOAw
A Science Teacher Turned Hero in a Galactic Crisis
Project Hail Mary centers on a man who never expected to lead a space mission. Ryland Grace was once a middle school science teacher. But when Earth faces a deadly threat that could destroy its sun, scientists turn to Grace for his expertise in molecular biology.
Despite his lack of training as an astronaut, he becomes the only person capable of completing a dangerous mission across the galaxy.
The movie is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, known for blending action, emotion, and humor in their work. The trailer shows a mix of striking space visuals and personal moments, as Grace forms an unlikely bond with an alien he meets on the mission.
This connection adds a unique twist to the usual science fiction storyline.
With its emotional core, unexpected friendship, and urgent mission to save the planet, Project Hail Mary is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most anticipated films. It combines relatable characters with big science fiction ideas, much like Weir’s earlier hit, The Martian.
Audiences can expect a mix of suspense, humor, and heart when the film arrives next spring.
