March 19, 2026

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How the Project Hail Mary directors brought science to the big screen

Project Hail Mary directors Christopher Miller and Phil Miller talk about astrobiology, optimistic science fiction, heist films and handsome scientists

By Brianne Kane edited by Carin Leong & Kelso Harper

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Our associate books editor Brianne Kane sat down with directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord in the mission control room at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab to talk about their new sci-fi film Project Hail Mary. “We like stories about science that are about the optimistic side of science and…how science can be used in a way that's hopeful and optimistic about the future and can be the answer to our problems,” Miller says. The movie, which is based on a beloved science fiction book by Andy Weir, premieres on March 20, 2026.

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How the Project Hail Mary directors brought science to the big screen | Scientific American