'Project Hail Mary' Author Has Good News and Bad News About a Potential Sequel
Author Andy Weir has been crushing the New York Times Bestsellers list with his hard science fiction novel Project Hail Mary. The book has been one of the top picks for 38 weeks—and it’s still going strong. And now a film version of the novel, starring Ryan Gosling, is about to hit theaters.
With buzz already sky-high for the well-reviewed sci-fi flick, speculation about the film's box office potential is growing. And with that comes talks of a sequel. During a new interview with Screenrant, Weir discussed the possibility, as well as his next novel.
Weir’s Thoughts on a 'Project Hail Mary' Sequel
Even though fans would love a sequel to Weir’s Project Hail Mary, the author noted that nothing is in the works quite yet. Although he did not divulge any major details, Weir noted his next novel will be science fiction and a totally “new standalone story … not a sequel to anything.”
He added, “I’m working on this other story. Hopefully, in time, I've got bits and pieces of good ideas for sequels, but not enough to run with. If I'm going to sequel it, I want it to be good.”
Weir also commented on his writing, noting that even though it’s rooted in science, it delivers optimism to readers. And clearly, fans agree.
“It's interesting because that's not a thing I have to put effort into. I am an inherently optimistic person. So I'm just writing the world the way I see the world. I have a very high opinion of human nature,” Weir told Scary Mommy. "It’s easy to hyper-focus on bad things that are going on because there are eight billion people on this planet — there's always going to be some bad things going on. But the thing to remember is that the bad things are in the news because bad things are newsworthy. The billion or so good things that happen every day don't get reported because they're mundane.”
What to Know About the Project Hail Mary Film
Project Hail Mary is set to hit theaters on March 20, 2026. The film is about a science teacher, Ryland Grace, who wakes up from a coma on a spaceship, completely alone and light-years away from home. As his memory gradually returns, he remembers his mission: preventing an unknown substance from destroying the sun in order to save the world from potential extinction.
Ryan Gosling shared with Scary Mommy that Project Hail Mary is the type of movie he wants his kids to watch.
“Can you believe it all came out of [Weir’s] brain? I'm just like, how did it all come out of there? It's an extraordinary journey, right? I mean, you go to another galaxy, you make an alien best friend, and you save the stars,” Gosling told the publication. “It’s a journey like no other. And yet at the heart of it, it's just so emotional. People have that experience when they read the book, but it's been beautiful to watch these screenings, because people are just so emotional.”
Project Hail Mary is not Weir’s first success in science fiction novels, either. He brought fans The Martian (which was also turned into a movie), Artemis, and Cheshire Crossing. With award-winning author’s just dished out some exciting tidbits for fans.