Ryan Gosling is on a mission to save humanity, but it's his new alien sidekick who's really stealing the spotlight in the thrilling new trailer for Project Hail Mary that debuted during the Super Bowl.
The sci-fi epic, based on the acclaimed novel by Andy Weir, follows Gosling's character Ryland Grace, a middle school teacher turned astronaut who wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there. What he soon discovers is a dire mission to stop an interstellar threat that's dimming the sun and putting Earth's future at risk.
An Unlikely Friendship
But the real scene-stealer is Grace's new alien companion, a rock-like creature that bears a striking resemblance to the lovable Baby Groot from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. The two strike up an unlikely friendship as they work together to save their respective planets, with the alien providing much-needed comic relief and emotional support for Gosling's character.
"What this really means is that Project Hail Mary is shaping up to be a heartwarming buddy story at its core, with the high-stakes sci-fi setting providing the perfect backdrop," said IndieWire film critic Kate Erbland. "Gosling's natural charisma paired with this adorable new alien character is sure to be a winning combination."
The Bigger Picture
The Super Bowl trailer also teases the grand scale and visual spectacle of Project Hail Mary, with sweeping shots of Gosling's character navigating the treacherous environments of space. Directed by the dynamic duo of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film promises to deliver an epic, thrilling, and ultimately uplifting story of humanity's ability to overcome even the greatest of challenges.
As IGN's Lex Briscuso put it, "The new trailer for Project Hail Mary shows Ryan Gosling saving the world with one adorable alien sidekick - and I don't know him yet, but I love him." Audiences will get to see the full scope of this unlikely duo's adventure when the film hits theaters on March 20, 2026.