I want to be excited. I really do. Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary is a masterclass in watching smart people solve impossible problems. It’s one of the few books that actually made me feel optimistic about humanity’s place in the stars. But after seeing the new trailer, I have some thoughts—and they aren’t all good.
The Spoiler Problem
I’ve been seeing this all over Reddit and X, and the consensus is pretty clear: they showed too much. One user on Reddit summed it up perfectly: ‘The reveal of Rocky was supposed to be the emotional core of the second act, not a trailer thumbnail.’ Another fan on X posted, ‘I’m glad it looks good, but I wish I could un-watch that trailer for the sake of my friends who haven’t read the book.’
Part of the joy of the story is that slow, agonizing mystery. You wake up with Ryland Grace, you’re confused, you’re alone, and then… you aren’t. By showing Rocky so clearly in the marketing, they’ve robbed new audiences of that ‘wait, what is that?’ moment.
The ‘Gosling’ Factor
Don’t get me wrong, I love Ryan Gosling. He was incredible in First Man. But Ryland Grace is a science teacher who is kind of a dork. Can Gosling pull off ‘panicked science teacher’ without it feeling like ‘cool guy in a spacesuit’?
The Trailers (Watch at your own risk)
If you want to see what all the fuss is about, here are both trailers. The first one sets the mood perfectly, but the second one? That’s the one that gives away the farm.
Trailer 1: The Teaser
Trailer 2: The Big Reveal
What do you guys think? Are the spoilers a dealbreaker, or am I just overthinking it?
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