Ryan Gosling Debuts New ‘Project Hail Mary’ Footage to Laughs at Comic-Con
Amazon MGM Studios
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller helm the Amazon MGM sci-fi feature hitting theaters March 2026
Comic-Con attendees were treated to a first look at Amazon MGM Studios’ highly anticipated sci-fi adaptation Project Hail Mary, with none other than Ryan Gosling taking the stage alongside directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The film, based on the best-selling novel by The Martian author Andy Weir, stars Gosling as Ryland Grace, a middle school teacher turned unlikely astronaut on a mission to save Earth from extinction.
During the San Diego Comic-Con panel, fans were shown several clips from the film's first act, which were met with waves of laughter and excitement. The event featured Gosling, Lord and Miller, Weir, and screenwriter Drew Goddard (The Martian, The Cabin in the Woods), who offered insight into the unique tone and emotional undercurrents of the film.
Ryan Gosling at San Diego Comic-Con on July 26, 2025. Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty
The opening five-minute sequence depicts Ryland Grace awakening aboard a spaceship, sporting a wild beard and surrounded by robotic assistants. He moves groggily through the vessel, wordlessly piecing together his surroundings before finally uttering the line, "Where am I?" The scene’s comedic beats landed well with the Comic-Con audience, drawing out plenty of laughs. Gosling joked that his character wears a "placenta onesie," and suggested it could be next year’s cosplay trend.
Another clip revealed Gosling interacting with Sandra Hüller’s character, who pushes him to experiment on an alien cell. When Gosling asks, "Am I expendable? Is that why you want me?" Hüller dryly replies, "That's not the only reason." More laughter followed, especially as Gosling’s character complained about the pressure: “It took 200 years to figure out how bacteria work,” only to receive the curt reply: “Please do it faster.”
Amazon MGM Studios
The presentation also included a more intense zero-gravity scene that hinted at the film’s dramatic weight and Ryland’s emotional arc. "I connected to his reluctance," Gosling shared. "He's quite an ordinary person."
POPULAR ON THE CINEMA GROUP
Phil Lord noted the filmmakers had long hoped to collaborate with Gosling, calling the project “the most rewarding collaboration of our careers.” Lord cheekily summed up the film’s emotional stakes: “It answers the question, 'If the universe depends on it, can adult men make friends?'"
Weir, the original author, praised Gosling’s portrayal of Ryland Grace. “Seeing Ryan give so many layers to this character I made up, I was like, ‘Wow, this character is really cool,’” he joked.
Getty Images
Of particular excitement was the mention of Rocky, the alien character that becomes Grace’s unexpected ally. Christopher Miller described the alien as entirely unconventional: “He doesn’t have eyes or a mouth or a face,” yet insisted the audience would “die for this character.” Weir added humorously, "From Emma Stone to person of stone," drawing comparisons to Gosling’s frequent co-star.
Project Hail Mary, directed by the team behind The LEGO Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, is set for a theatrical release on March 20, 2026. Also starring Milana Vayntrub and Sandra Hüller, the film promises a blend of emotional depth, sci-fi thrills, and unexpected humor. The footage debuted at Comic-Con suggests that Lord and Miller have crafted a crowd-pleasing adaptation that leans into humanity, humor, and high-concept science.
Watch The Trailer Below:
