Ryan Gosling is reportedly attached to produce and star in an adaptation of the sci-fi novel, The Hail Mary. The book comes from Andy Weir, writer of The Martian, which was turned into the 2015 film of the same name starring Matt Damon and directed by Ridley Scott. MGM is reportedly paying a 7-figure sum at auction to acquire the rights.
The premise sounds extremely similar to The Martian, again focusing on an astronaut stuck alone on a spaceship. Except this time, he’s trying to save the whole world, not just himself. It also sounds like familiar territory for Gosling, who played Neil Armstrong just two years ago in Damien Chazelle‘s First Man.
The Martian was mostly well received but did receive some criticism for eschewing Weir’s science-based solutions in the book for more Hollywood set pieces. The ending comes to mind, especially. Obviously Hollywood is going to want to turn a space book into a spectacle of sorts, but the novel was praised for its scientific accuracy, so to ignore much of it felt a little insulting to some.
We’ll see whether The Hail Mary goes down the same route. Unfortunately, we have no source material to go on yet, as Weir’s novel won’t be published until next year. Pre-publication deals like this are nothing new though. MGM and competing studios will have seen the success of The Martian and jumped at the chance to produce the adaptation of Weir’s next book, no matter how good it is.
It will be interesting to see who signs on to direct the project. You’d imagine that any filmmaker would jump at the chance to direct Gosling in a space movie, so they’ll be lining up around the block to make their case (figuratively, and standing at least two feet apart, of course).
#Peace.Love.TheHailMary
