In March, we reported about Academy Award-nominated actor Ryan Gosling (Blade Runner 2049, Drive) teaming up with science fiction writer Andy Weir for a feature film adaptation of Weir’s as-yet-unpublished novel The Hail Mary. Now Variety reports that movie just found its directors: Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
Lord and Miller drew attention directing hit comedies like 21 Jump Street and its sequel. Furthermore, the duo also made The Lego Movie, co-wrote The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, and helped produce the excellent animated superhero film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. According to Variety, Gosling began lobbying for the inclusion of Lord and Miller even before he finished reading Weir’s manuscript. Gosling and Weir are also co-producing the adaptation. They’ve just been joined by Amy Pascal, a producer whose recent projects include Venom and its upcoming sequel, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Little Women.
At the moment, we know barely anything about The Hail Mary. It tells a story about a lone astronaut on a mission to save the entire planet. However, MGM trusts this project so much that the studio bought the adaptation rights for seven figures, even with the coronavirus all but freezing both the production and distribution of movies.
