Published Mar 19, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT
Amazon MGM's Project Hail Mary is already one of the most buzzed-about sci-fi adaptations on the horizon, bringing Andy Weir's beloved novel to life with Ryan Gosling leading the charge as Ryland Grace, an unlikely astronaut tasked with saving Earth from extinction. But for readers of the book, one question has loomed large ever since marketing began: did the movie reveal Rocky too early?
In the novel, Rocky, an alien engineer who becomes Grace's unexpected partner, isn't just a plot twist, he's the emotional backbone of the story. While his introduction lands about halfway through the book, the film's trailers put him front and center, revealing him at the jump — a move that has sparked debate amongst fans worried the surprise might be spoiled.
Brief shots in the trailer show Grace discovering the alien spacecraft, followed by glimpses of Rocky's unique multi-limbed design, and the early stages of their communication, making it clear this isn't a hostile alien encounter, but the start of an unexpected partnership. And while some believe the big surprise of the pair's interspecies friendship has been spoiled, directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller say the reveal was never meant to be a secret.
In an interview with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley ahead of the film's release, Lord and Miller made clear that Project Hail Mary isn't about discovering Rocky; it's about watching that relationship between him and Grace unfold.
Chris Miller: It was never about whether we were going to reveal Rocky, it was about when in the campaign we were going to reveal Rocky. I think when you see the movie, obviously between the three trailers, you've seen seven minutes of a two and a half hour movie.
And while the trailer is jam-packed, Miller promised there's still "a lot more" that audiences haven't seen.
Chris Miller: There's a lot more stuff that you haven't seen in it. You meet Rocky in the first hour of that movie. The idea that there is an alien is not the big twist revealed at the end of the movie. It is the premise of the movie. And Rocky is the co-star of the film. And so you have to tell a story where you show what the movie's about, and it's about that relationship.
While Miller jokingly called Rocky a "diva," and Lord quipped that his publicist is a "real turd," there's nothing but love for Rocky. The alien engineer causing all this commotion is voiced by James Ortiz in the film. Ortiz, who also puppets Rocky, is best known for his work in theater, including his role in The Woodsman and designing for The Skin of Our Teeth. He's also an accomplished puppeteer, making him the perfect choice to bring the beloved alien to life.
An Amazon release, Project Hail Mary, will be debuting exclusively in theaters before making its way to viewers at home, with showings also available in IMAX, starting March 20. As for when the sci-fi movie will be available to stream on Prime Video, that date has not yet been announced.
Project Hail Mary is in theaters and IMAX on Friday, March 20.
Release Date March 20, 2026
Runtime 156 Minutes
Director Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
Writers Drew Goddard, Andy Weir
English (US) ·