Andy Weir’s third novel,Project Hail Mary, has the potential to receive an adaptation as good asThe Martian, ideally as a sci-fi TV show.The Martianis Andy Weir’s first published novel and one ofRidley Scott’s best movies. It revolves around Mark Watney’s (Matt Damon) survival on Mars while he waits for a rescue crew.Project Hail Maryalmost reversesThe Martian’s narrative. WhileThe Martiandepicts Mark Watney’s time on Marswaiting for his crew,Project Hail Mary’s protagonist, Ryland Grace, travels even further away on a mission he was meant to perish on to save Earth.
Project Hail Maryfollows Ryland Grace during two different timelines—flashbacks of Ryland’s final memories on Earth and Ryland aboard the Hail Mary in the present day. The contrast betweenProject Hail MaryandThe Martianmakes the former the perfect follow-up.However,Project Hail Marymakes more sense as a TV show.AlthoughProject Hail Maryshould be a sci-fi adaptation for television, there is already a movie adaptation in the works starring Ryan Gosling.Project Hail Mary’s release dateis currently August 10, 2025.
Project Hail Mary Is The Perfect Follow-Up To The Martian
Andy Weir’s Books Share A Lot In Common
Project Hail Marywould be the perfect follow-up toThe Martianbecause they share themeswhile contrasting each other.The Martiandepicts Mark Watney’s survival after an unexpected dust storm leaves him stranded on Mars. He must survive until his crew from theHermesreturns to rescue him. On the flip side,Project Hail Marydepicts Ryland Grace’s survival in outer space, but instead of attempting to survive on a planet, Ryland lives on theHail Maryas he travels to the star Tau Ceti. Mark and Ryland’s missions go wrong but with vastly different results.
Mark Watney becomes stranded on Mars, while Ryland Grace unexpectedly survives to save Earth and live on his own terms. Furthermore, their circumstances are different since Mark’s memories are fully intact, while Ryland wakes up on theHail Marywithout any recollection of his mission, which he only recalls over time—he is on theHail Marytraveling to a Solar System 12 lightyears away to save the Sun, and by extension, humanity. However,the core themes ofThe MartianandProject Hail Maryare similar since both stories feature an unlikely protagonist who thrives in space against all odds.
Project Hail Mary Would Make A Great TV Show
Project Hail Mary’s Structure Would Be Ideal For A TV Show
Project Hail Maryis particularly unique because it would make more sense as asci-fi TV show. The book is set up to follow two narrative time frames: the days leading up to Ryland leaving Earth for the mission and waking up without his memory of theHail Mary.This dual timeline is unlikely to deliver the full effects as a film because movie productions often condense the storyto fit a film time frame. A TV show would allow the narrative to flesh outProject Hail Mary’s two timelines properly, giving both storylines the attention they deserve.
Project Hail Mary Needs To Break A Disappointing Ryan Gosling Movie Streak That Goes Back To 2017
Ryan Gosling has had a poor track record with sci-fi films at the box office, but Project Hail Mary could be what finally breaks this trend.
EvenThe Martianis not immune to condensation—some notablebook and movie differences inThe Martianinvolve speeding up Mark Watney’s time on Mars. While it does not affectThe Martian, speeding up Ryland Grace’s story could damage the narrative.A sci-fi TV show that has benefited from a TV adaptation is Netflix’s3 Body Problem, based onRemembrance of Earth’s Pastby Liu Cixin. The TV show also follows multiple timelines, and the reward is substantial—Netflix’s renewal of3 Body Problemconfirmedthat there will be three seasons to tell the story, one for each book in the trilogy.
A Project Hail Mary Movie Is Already In Development
Ryan Gosling Will Star As Ryland Grace In Project Hail Mary
Although a TV show forProject Hail Marywould make more sense,the novel’s adaptation will ultimately be a movie starring Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace. The film is set to release on July 29, 2025, and it is currently in production.Project Hail Mary’s co-director has announced the beginning of filming using a behind-the-scenes photoin June 2024. The film will also star Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt and feature other actors such as Milana Vayntrub and James Ortiz. Amazon MGM Studios will distributeProject Hail Marythrough Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.
As of right now, the adaptation ofProject Hail Maryseems to be in good hands, and it is well underway for filming. Only time will tell if the movie will be a good adaptation. However, optimism is high with Drew Goddard returning as the screenwriter (he also wroteThe Martian’s screenplay), with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller as directors.Project Hail Maryis one of the best sci-fi books of recent years and Andy Weir’s best work to date. The story deserves the proper chance to shine on screen, regardless of the format.
The Martian
Cast
Adapted by Ridley Scott from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, The Martian follows the plight of astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) after he finds himself stranded alone on Mars after he is falsely presumed dead during a mission. Unable to communicate with Earth and armed with little more than his scientific expertise as a botanist, Watney must find a way to survive on the barren planet until the next scheduled mission arrives.
Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary is a science fiction film centered on a lone astronaut who awakens on a spaceship with no recollection of his mission. As he reconstructs his memory, he realizes he is Earth’s last hope against an existential threat, forging an unexpected but vital alliance along the way.
