I can’t wait to see Ryan Gosling team up with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller for the science fiction movie Project Hail Hary. In the upcoming sci-fi film, which is based on the novel by Andy Weir, Gosling will play an astronaut who wakes up in deep space with no memory of what his mission is.
This is not good, since Gosling’s character was sent to space to try to save Earth from an Ice Age. While the film won’t be released until the spring of 2026, footage of Project Hail Mary was already shown at CinemaCon 2025. Therefore, a trailer and promotional material for the highly anticipated movie should be released in the second half of the year.
Project Hail Mary is not only exciting because it stars Ryan Gosling, but also because it will be directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Lord and Miller are acclaimed filmmakers, but the duo have unfortunately not directed anything since 2014’s 22 Jump Street. Therefore, Project Hail Mary will thankfully end this unfortunate 11-year streak for Lord and Miller.
Project Hail Mary Is Lord & Miller’s First Movie As Directors Since 2014
They Have Worked As Writers & Producers In Recent Years
Even though Lord and Miller first started working in Hollywood in the late 1990s, they have actually only directed four feature films throughout their careers. The duo directed 2009’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and 2014’s The Lego Movie. Additionally, they showcased that they could direct live-action films, and that they are arguably two of the funniest people in Hollywood, with 21 Jump Street and the aforementioned 22 Jump Street.
|
Movies Directed By Phil Lord & Christopher Miller |
RT Critics Score |
|---|---|
|
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) |
85% |
|
21 Jump Street (2012) |
85% |
|
The Lego Movie (2014) |
96% |
|
22 Jump Street (2014) |
84% |
Even though their directing credits are fewer than their writing credits, Lord and Miller are clearly very talented filmmakers. However, they have never (fully) directed a project like Project Hail Mary before. Therefore, it will be interesting to see what they do with a big-budget science fiction movie.
Why Lord & Miller Haven’t Made A Movie In So Long
Lord & Miller’s Last Directorial Effort Didn’t Go As Planned
Even though Lord and Miller haven’t directed a film since 2014, this doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy. Over the last several years, they have written movies such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and its sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, as well as the sequel to The Lego Movie.
However, even though they have indeed been busy with other projects, Lord and Miller definitely didn’t plan on having such a long directing hiatus. In fact, they were the original directors of 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. Fans of Lord and Miller were incredibly excited when they were announced as directors of the Star Wars spinoff movie, but things eventually took a turn for the worse.
Reportedly, Lord and Miller and representatives from Lucasfilm couldn’t agree on what the tone of Solo should be, which led to the two parties going their separate ways due to creative differences. Ron Howard stepped in to finish directing Solo and reshoot several scenes, while Lord and Miller pursued other projects. However, years later, the directing duo are now returning to the science fiction genre.
Lord & Miller Are Two Of Cinema’s Most Exciting & Creative Directors
Lord & Miller Have Experienced Incredible Success After Leaving Solo
Given the success of their previous directorial efforts, Lord and Miller have been regarded as visionary creatives for a long time. However, after leaving Solo: A Star Wars Story and starting work on the Spider-Verse series, their reputation has only been heightened. Today, Lord and Miller are seen as two of the most exciting writers and directors in Hollywood.
Even though they haven’t directed a live-action film in 11 years, there is no need to be concerned about Project Hail Mary.
Fans of the duo can’t wait for the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which will conclude the critically acclaimed trilogy. However, before this trilogy-capper is released, Lord and Miller will make their long-awaited return to live-action.
Even though they haven’t directed a live-action film in 11 years, there is no need to be concerned about Project Hail Mary. Throughout their careers, Lord and Miller have consistently proven that they can hop between several different mediums and balance a lot of different tones. This is precisely why they are often regarded as two of the most talented and exciting creatives currently working in Hollywood.
Ryan Gosling Should Fit Perfectly With Lord & Miller
Gosling Can Be Both Serious & Hilarious
Based on its premise, Project Hail Mary will undoubtedly be an emotional movie with very high stakes. By starring in science fiction films like First Man and Blade Runner 2049, Gosling is uniquely qualified to play a secluded astronaut in Project Hail Mary. However, since Lord and Miller are used to dealing with different tones and come from a comedy background, their upcoming sci-fi movie will probably also contain a lot of humor.
Thankfully, I believe Gosling’s sense of humor and line delivery will work perfectly with Lord and Miller’s style of comedy. In addition to starring in quite serious sci-fi movies like First Man and Blade Runner 2049, Gosling has also proven that he is a hilarious performer by taking on roles in films like Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Nice Guys, and Barbie.
Based on his aforementioned performances, I’m confident Gosling will be able to easily handle the differing tones in Project Hail Mary. Lord and Miller are known to be directors who like to include a lot of improvisation in their movies. This can be difficult for some (and was definitely not liked by all on Solo) but I believe Gosling will thrive in this type of environment.
Project Hail Mary Is One Of The Most Exciting Upcoming Sci-Fi Movies
More News About Project Hail Mary Should Be Coming Soon
Weir is a skilled sci-fi writer and his words translate very well to the big screen. To confirm this claim, one needs to look no further than the 2015 movie The Martian, which was a major critical and commercial success. Just like The Martian, I’m expecting Project Hail Mary to be a hit with both critics and audiences.
Project Hail Mary is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on March 20, 2026.
Ever since the Project Hail Mary novel was released in 2021, fans of Weir have been waiting for an adaptation. Therefore, based on Weir, Gosling, and Lord and Miller’s previous work, I don’t think there’s any reason to believe Project Hail Mary won’t be amazing, which is why it is one of the most exciting upcoming sci-fi movies.
