Ryan Gosling took fans on an emotional and immersive space journey at Comic-Con, debuting new footage from Project Hail Mary, his upcoming sci-fi epic. Based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, the film promises heart, humor, and zero-gravity thrills.
Ryan Gosling brought the house down at Comic-Con on Saturday, offering fans a vertigo-inducing sneak peek at his new space thriller Project Hail Mary. In the film, Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a mild-mannered science teacher unexpectedly recruited for a desperate interstellar mission to save Earth from a solar catastrophe.
“He’s an ordinary man—scared and uncertain—but he keeps going, step by step,” Gosling said of his character, emphasizing the emotional heart behind the high-concept story.
Slated for release in U.S. theaters in March 2026, the film is based on the novel by Andy Weir, whose The Martian was adapted into a hit starring Matt Damon. Gosling, clearly moved by the story, praised Weir’s work: “I knew it would be brilliant because it’s Andy, but I wasn’t prepared for what he did this time. He took me to places I’d never been, showed me things I’d never seen. It was heartbreaking, hilarious, overwhelming.”
Author Andy Weir was also present and expressed excitement seeing his words brought to life. “It’s amazing to watch the layers of this character unfold on screen,” he said.
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (known for The LEGO Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) discussed the enormous technical challenges behind the scenes. “We had to build a full spacecraft in both zero and artificial gravity modes,” said Miller. “And then we constructed this giant 100-foot tunnel, lit to simulate sunlight reflecting everywhere—it took up an entire soundstage.”
One of the story’s emotional cores lies in the bond Grace forms with a rocky alien named Rocky. “That relationship is the heart of the film,” Miller noted.
Fans who saw the exclusive preview seemed thrilled. “I loved it!” said April Rodriguez, a longtime fan of the novel. “Seeing them interact—I imagined it differently, but I really loved the way they portrayed it!”
Star Trek Universe Expands with Puppets and a New Academy
Earlier at the convention, the Star Trek universe delighted fans with sneak peeks of several upcoming series. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds surprised audiences by revealing an entire episode from its upcoming fourth season created using puppetry.
Also revealed was Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a new series coming next year to Paramount+. Set in the 32nd century, after the events of Discovery, the show takes place in a futuristic academy on the outskirts of San Francisco.
Oscar winner Holly Hunter stars as Nahla Ake, the Academy’s rector and the captain of the USS Athena. “It was intriguing to be both a captain—decisive in emergencies—and a rector who nurtures and guides. It’s a fascinating balance,” Hunter said.
Comic-Con 2025 wraps up Sunday after four days of pop culture reveals, surprises, and cosmic-scale storytelling.
By Paula RAMON / AFP
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