The trailer of the Ryan Gosling starrer 'Project Hail Mary' features a mysterious alien presence that instantly grabs attention and that’s Rocky. Rocky may look unfamiliar, but he quickly turns out to be the heart of Project Hail Mary. As the story unfolds, he becomes astronaut Ryland Grace’s unlikely companion, bringing warmth, intelligence, and an emotional depth that transforms the film into a unique buddy journey.

No CGI for Project Hail Mary

When the filmmakers of Project Hail Mary set out to bring Rocky to life, they made a bold call, he wouldn’t be created later through CGI, but would exist physically on set throughout the shoot. “What’s so great about Rocky in the book is the way he’s described as a character that looks like he’s made of rocks, has no face, has five leg-arms that he can use for various different purposes,” Miller says. Instead of simplifying that complexity, the team leaned into it, building the character through puppetry and advanced animatronics to ensure he could perform alongside Ryan Gosling in real time.