Ryan Gosling heads to space in 'Project Hail Mary'

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Ryan Gosling is going back to space. You may remember he played Neil Armstrong in "First Man."

This time, the Oscar nominee is suiting up to play a very different kind of astronaut, one without any training! And it's up to him to save the world in "Project Hail Mary."

In the film, his character says, "I put the 'not' in astronaut. I've never done anything. I've never done a space walk I can't even moon walk!"

"Project Hail Mary" is an epic space adventure about human resilience and what makes us, us.

"Astronauts are a very special type of person. I've had the opportunity to spend some time with them. They're not like the rest of us," Gosling said.

"They have a bravery gene that's so unique to them," he added. Gosling noted he doesn't share those qualities "but I would like to pretend that I do."

Gosling plays Dr. Ryland Grace, an eighth grade science teacher, and humanity's last chance at survival when he somehow winds up in space.

"It felt daunting, but it was so hopeful in its core, in its message because the message of the movie is that we are capable of so much more than we realize," Gosling said.

Gosling was first pitched this movie at the start of the COVID pandemic, when our world was looking for a Hail Mary of its own.

"Movie theaters are closing down, film productions are closing down and suddenly I read the most epic film I probably will ever make, and seemingly impossible to make! You would need the best of the best and all of the resources to make, like the mission," Gosling said.

Oscar-nominated actress Sandra Huller plays a government operative who recruits the middle school teacher in this adventure.

"You will be surprised many times. We all know how plot twists work, it can be really boring, sometimes you see them coming. But in this case, it's really original," Huller said.

Without giving too much away, one of those surprises involves Gosling's hard-headed alien co-star, known as "Rocky." As he says in the movie, "So I met an alien. He's kind of growing on me. At least he's not growing in me!"

"Project Hail Mary" is based on the best-selling novel from Andy Weir, author of "The Martian." The movie is new to theaters this weekend.