Ryan Gosling is in talks to star in and produce sci-fi adaption of Project Hail Mary from the author of The Martian
He played the first man to set foot on the moon in 2018’s First Man.
Now Ryan Gosling will again blast off into space for the film adaptation of the upcoming science fiction novel Project Hail Mary, according to Deadline.
The 39-year-old Drive star is reportedly in talks to both star in and produce the film.
Blasting off again: Ryan Gosling, 39, is in talks to star in and produce the science fiction Adaptation Project Hail Mary, Deadline reported Friday; pictured in 2018
Project Hail Mary is based on the novel by Andy Weir, best known for writing The Martian.
That book was adapted into the critically and commercially successful film starring Matt Damon, which grossed $630 million, according to Box Office Mojo.
Though Ryan is already trying to nail down Weir’s newest work, the novel won’t be released until next spring.
Solid track record: The film, about an astronaut tasked with saving Earth, is written by Andy Weir, whose novel The Martian was a hit for Matt Damon; shown with Damien Chazelle in 2018
The book follows an astronaut living in solitude aboard a spaceship who’s tasked with saving the Earth, though few other details have been released.
MGM is currently trying to acquire the new project in what is reportedly a seven-figure deal, and Gosling is expected to produce it with Ken Kao.
Project Hail Mary should be right in Ryan’s wheelhouse, as he previously played a solitary, brooding version of Neil Armstrong in the biopic First Man.
Though the film was a hit with critics, who singled him out for his performance, audiences didn’t flock to it.
Fits the bill: The film will likely be in Gosling’s wheelhouse, as he previously starred as the lonely, brooding Neil Armstrong in 2018’s First Man; still from First Man
Just prior to that, the La La Land star led the ambitious sequel Blade Runner 2049, which was praised by critics for its stunning visuals and his quietly emotional performance.
But the film failed to recoup its budget, possibly due to its lengthy runtime and the fact that the Harrison Ford–starring 1982 original was a box office failure, even if it’s now regarded as a cult classic.
Ryan’s only other movie since the Oscar-winning hit La La Land was the divisive arthouse drama Song To Song, in which he starred with Rooney Mara and Michael Fassbender for the legendary auteur Terrence Malick.
Gosling producing turn with Project Hail Mary will be his first attempt at leading a production since his ill-fated 2014 directorial debut Lost River, which currently holds a 30 percent rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Similar territory: Prior to that, he led the science fiction sequel Blade Runner 2049, which was a hit with critics but failed to recoup its budget; still from Blade Runner 2049
Tough hand: The film may have been hurt by its lengthy runtime and the fact that the Harrison Ford–starring original was a commercial failure, despite being regarded as cult classic; still from Blade Runner
Project Hail Mary will likely be the third high-profile adaptation for Andy Weir.
The directing duo of Phil Lord and Chris Miller, best known for directing The Lego Movie, are currently working on an adaptation of his 2017 follow-up to The Martian, the science fiction novel Artemis.
Deadline reported in November that their production company is also developing an original idea from the scribe, as well as a graphic novel.