Project Hail Mary Sequel Update Drops as Ryan Gosling Film Nears Liftoff
As Ryan Gosling readies Project Hail Mary for liftoff in theaters, author Andy Weir offers a fresh update on the space saga’s future—and whether a sequel is truly on the launchpad.
Ryan Gosling is about to blast off with Project Hail Mary on the big screen, but whether this turns into a franchise comes down to one person: Andy Weir. The author just weighed in on a sequel and what he is actually writing right now.
What Andy Weir is writing next
Weir says he is already deep into his next novel. He is keeping specifics close, but he did lock in a few basics:
- It is firmly in the sci-fi lane, exactly what you expect from him.
- It will not connect to any of his earlier books.
- Everything else is under wraps for now.
So... about a Project Hail Mary sequel
Fans keep asking, and yes, the idea has crossed his mind. But Weir does not have a story he is ready to run with yet. He has a handful of fragments, nothing he considers a full-on engine for a book.
"I don't feel like I have anything strong enough to run with yet... 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."
Short version: he is not closing the door, but there is no sequel on his desk right now.
What that means for the movie side
If Weir eventually writes a follow-up, that likely sets the table for a second film. Studios usually want the next book in hand first, and, of course, how Gosling's adaptation performs at the box office will do a lot of talking.
Where the book stands
Project Hail Mary already comes in with strong sci-fi cred, and Weir has the track record to back it up after The Martian turned into a hit movie starring Matt Damon. Translation: the appetite is there. Now it is a waiting game for the author to find the sequel idea that actually sticks.