‘Project Hail Mary’, a movie seen by the original author

Amazon MGM Studios' 'Project Hail Mary' recorded box office revenue of $140 million on its first weekend worldwide, setting several new records as a Hollywood film rather than a franchise or sequel. Andy Weir, author of the original novels 'Project Hail Mary' and 'The Martian', participated as a producer of this film and was present at most of the filming sites.

Weir, who met at the end of a month-long press tour, said, "I'm really happy that the studio is putting so much effort into marketing."

Ryan Gosling adds depth to the character

For Weir, collaborating with Ryan Gosling gave her new insight into the creative process.

“I didn’t realize how involved actors were in the creative process,” Weir said. “Naively, I thought actors were all about reading lines and expressing the right emotions. But they do so much more. They co-create characters and add depth and complexity. They often deviate from the script to make the characters better.”

Weir honestly acknowledged his own weaknesses and praised Gosling's contributions. “I’m a plot-driven writer, so I think character depth is my biggest weakness. As I watched Ryan add layers to Ryland that I wasn’t able to capture in the book, I thought, ‘Okay, he’s making up for what I couldn’t do.’”

Gosling shows a new look

Gosling, who played the role of Ryland Grace, a reluctant hero who must save the Earth, showed outstanding ability in comedic acting, unlike dark films such as 'Drive' and 'The Place Beyond the Pines.'

“I think he’s been longing for a role that would show him a broader acting range,” Weir added. “He is a talented actor, but he has always been given roles where he just stares gloomily into space. If you think about ‘Blade Runner 2049’ or ‘First Man,’ he was always expressionless and emotionless. One of the reasons these movies were attractive to him was because he was able to express a full range of emotions and reveal his personality on screen.”

Difficulties of the press tour and souvenirs from the filming set

Weir admits that the press tour was tiring, despite asking her to keep travel to a minimum since she has a 4-year-old son. “You can do as many remote interviews as you want, but if you actually leave and travel, your wife’s score will be deducted. My wife’s score is a valuable asset,” he said with a hint of humor.

Regarding the souvenirs he brought from the filming set, he said, "I brought a fabric cover for the producer's chair that said 'Andy Weir - Project Hail Mary - Producer'." “I also grabbed some of the zenonite props from the set. The model building team built everything, but the directors brought home versions they didn’t like.”

It is said that Weir chose two scenes in particular as his favorite scenes in this science fiction film directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.