Phil Lord & Chris Miller's Space Buddy Comedy

0:00This is Cory with the Story, keeping you tapped into pop culture. Are you listening to Entertainment and Celebrity News today? Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller have wrapped their biggest project yet. The $200 million sci-fi film, Project Hail Mary. Ryan Gosling plays Ryling Grace, a middle school teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship, fighting to save Earth from a star-killing virus called Astrophage. Adapted from Andy Wears' hit novel, the movie hits theaters this week with Sandra Heller as a key UN leader. Early on set, Gosling got lonely filming solo scenes, so the directors grabbed a mop, added a dress from wardrobe and turned it into his dance. Partner. That's their style, full of playful twists on everyday objects, like they did in the Lego movie and Spider-Verse. This time, it fits the story's buddy vibe and space. The real challenge was Rocky, Grace's alien buddy made of rock with no face, speaking in strange sounds and unable to breathe our air. Wear designed him to feel truly otherworldly.

1:00Screenwriter Drew Goddard, New Lord and Miller can nail it, drawing from their animation background. They hired puppeteer James Ortiz for Rocky, testing chemistry with Gosling to spark real interplay. Despite massive effects, they left room for improv, like zero gravity gags and a last minute karaoke bit with Heller singing a hairy style song. Steven Spielberg even suggested a fun nod to closing counters. Now, the film blends hard science, laughs and heart, aiming to repeat the Martian success as an original blockbuster. No more low budget surprises for these directors. Just high stakes fun. This story is made possible by our sponsor. What is cooler than cool? A pillow that plays your sound, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.