Ryan Gosling is heading back to space in a new sci-fi thriller, which is going to be an adaptation of Andy Weir’s forthcoming novel. MGM has brought the directing duo of Lord and Miller onboard to helm this project and produce along with Amy Pascal.
Andy Weir, the author of The Martian, is working on a new book that is being adapted into a movie by MGM productions. Not much is known about the book except it is not slated to come until spring 2021. Surprisingly, we know a lot more about the movie than the book.
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The working title of the book is Project Hail Mary. Ryan Gosling is lined up to star in this film beforehand when it was still in the negotiation state back in March. Now, as reported by Variety, Phil Lord and Chris Miller have signed on to direct this film and will be reuniting with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse producer Amy Pascal. Ryan Gosling, Andy Weir, and Ken Kao will be joining as co-producers in this movie.
Lord and Miller Throw A Hail Mary
Lord and Miller are long-time collaborators of Pascal’s, even sharing office space at one point and most recently winning an Oscar together for Into the Spider-Verse . Aditya Sood, the president of film of the filmmaking duo Lord and Miller’s production banner, will also produce this project. Interestingly the Deadpool producer Sood was also previously involved in The Martian‘s production.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller are one of Hollywood’s favorite directorial duos, they have done hit films like The Lego Movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, 21 Jump Street and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. At one point they are even tapped to direct the Star Wars prequel Solo, but were replaced from the project over creative differences. The directors haven’t directed a film since their 2014’s Lego Movie and the R-rated 22 Jump Street.
Weir’s Demand In Hollywood
The name Andy Weir became so popular with Hollywood after the movie adaptation of his book The Martian became a hit and got an Oscar-nomination. This is why there has been hot bidding for Weir’s next novel before it even came out. MGM stood out and won the film’s right for $3 million, according to THR.
Sources at Variety say that even before reading the manuscript was finished, Gosling was urging the execs that it seemed like the perfect project for Lord and Miller. The one hurdle this project facing was also overcome, that is as Universal signed the duo to a first-look deal last summer, after a discussion between MGM and Universal studios they said ok with Lord and Miller making this their next project.
MGM chief Michael De Luca said:
“All of us at MGM are incredibly excited by this literal dream team coming together around Andy’s astounding novel. With their masterful ability to balance drama, action, and humor, Phil and Chris are the perfect filmmakers to take on this unique material and we are thrilled to have them partner with Ryan, Ken, Andy, Amy and Aditya to bring this movie to life for big screens everywhere.”
Producer Amy Pascal added, “I couldn’t be more excited to be working with this dream team of filmmakers. Mike, Chris, Phil, Ryan, Andy, and Aditya are all the best of the best in their fields. I can’t wait to get going on this amazing project with them.”
Andy Weir’s untitled book is described as a solitary tale of a lone astronaut on a spaceship who is tasked with saving a doomed planet. After starring as Neil Armstrong in Damien Chazelle’s First Man, Gosling has set his course once again to where he’s gone before and play an astronaut once more in this Martian-y story.
Also in 2017, Lord and Miller attached themselves to another Weir sci-fi novel, Artemis, before attaching themselves as directors to another animated movie for Sony named Last Human. Their slate for the next few years is pretty filled. It will be interesting to see how Lord and Miller tackle a self-serious story as they did mostly comical movies in their career.
Space-related sci-fi movies have a special interest among the audience and at least one movie related to space will hit theaters every year. No word yet on its launch to theaters of this space movie, it most likely will be in 2022.
Are you excited to see Ryan Gosling go to space again? What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
