Lord and Miller Discuss 'Project Hail Mary' and Filmmaking Philosophy
Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller recently discussed their upcoming film 'Project Hail Mary,' an adaptation of Andy Weir's novel, featuring Ryan Gosling in the lead role of Ryland Grace.
This highly anticipated project marks Lord and Miller's first directorial endeavor since 2014's '22 Jump Street.' In the intervening years, they have been prolific as producers and screenwriters on acclaimed projects like the Lego movies and the 'Spider-Verse' saga. They were also the original directors for 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' in 2018.
Filmmaking Philosophy
Lord and Miller addressed the common perception of their films as 'crowd-pleasing.' Miller stated that they consistently aim for audience engagement throughout a film. Lord clarified that their primary focus is on making the movie 'really good.' They meticulously observe audience reactions during screenings to pinpoint areas where engagement might waver.
While they value audience response, Lord and Miller emphasized that they do not feel entirely beholden to it, sometimes choosing to retain moments they believe will resonate later.
They also highlighted the importance of quiet, enraptured audience reactions, not just laughter.
The directors further discussed sincerity in filmmaking. Lord referenced James Gunn's 'Superman' film, describing it as Gunn's most sincere work due to its profound focus on character relationships. Miller noted that sincerity is a defining characteristic of their 'Spider-Verse' films and 'Project Hail Mary,' aiming for audiences to experience a broad spectrum of emotions. Lord added that he believes laughs can often be present in dramatic scenes, citing how humor can naturally arise from tension in real-life situations. Miller provided an example from 'Project Hail Mary' where Ryan Gosling's character elicits laughter during an emotional moment, serving as a catharsis for the audience. Lord compared this dynamic to unexpected laughs observed during screenings of '2001: A Space Odyssey,' which he described as a 'crowd pleaser' despite its high cinematic standing.
Ryan Gosling's Performance
The directors praised Ryan Gosling's performance in 'Project Hail Mary,' noting his remarkable ability to carry the film largely on his own. Miller highlighted Gosling's extensive range demonstrated across previous roles, stating that 'Project Hail Mary' allowed him to seamlessly combine these different acting abilities. Lord drew a parallel between Gosling's physical creativity and that of Channing Tatum. Miller also emphasized Gosling's thoughtful approach to his roles, including his active contribution of ideas for scenes, moments, and even costumes.
Production Details
Ryan Gosling suggested the inclusion of a karaoke scene featuring Sandra Hüller's character, which involved her singing. Lord and Miller worked to integrate this into the narrative as a way for the character to reveal herself, framed as a dare from Gosling's character. Sandra Hüller agreed to sing a song with only 36 hours' notice, choosing a Harry Styles song that the directors noted was particularly poignant for the scene. The reactions of the other actors were filmed first, as they were deliberately kept unaware of Hüller's impending performance, allowing for genuine surprise. Licensing for the song was secured under extremely tight deadlines.
During development, the directors considered various backstory elements for Gosling's character, including potential relationships left on Earth. They ultimately determined that adding extensive backstory did not align with the novel's narrative, which focuses on a character who finds companionship in space. Initial filming prioritized the space sequences, with Earth-based scenes shot later. Ultimately, they concluded that a detailed backstory was not essential for the performance or the film's plot.
The Rocky Character
Miller discussed the meticulous development of the Rocky character, noting that its appeal stems from its distinctive movement, the personality infused by puppeteer and voice actor James Ortiz, and the innovative design work by Neil Scanlan's creature shop. The character's portrayal utilized a 50/50 mix of puppetry and animation, creating a seamless visual that was often indistinguishable.
Lord emphasized the crucial decision to use a puppet for Rocky, providing Ryan Gosling with a tangible scene partner. This enabled genuine reactions from Gosling and fostered a truly real on-screen relationship.
He described how Gosling's heartfelt interactions with the puppet conveyed a profound sense of wonder and optimism to his character.
Influences and Scientific Accuracy
The directors cited 'Harold and Maude' as an early reference point for 'Project Hail Mary,' due to its compelling themes of unlikely friendship and the enduring human condition. Lord also mentioned 'Paper Moon' in the context of Ryan Gosling's acting style, comparing his tendency to elevate other characters in a scene to actors like Warren Beatty or Robert Redford, who often portray seemingly low-status roles while subtly enhancing those around them.
The directors expressed a strong commitment to scientific accuracy in 'Project Hail Mary,' treating Andy Weir's novel as if it were a nonfiction source. They employed specialists on set, including author Andy Weir himself, who provided accurate equations for scenes and offered ingenious solutions to narrative challenges related to scientific principles. Miller noted that Weir's expertise was frequently utilized to adapt complex book elements into cinematic solutions, particularly when simplifying intricate plot points for the screen.
Project Selection and 'Animation Brain'
Lord and Miller described the unexpected arrival of 'Project Hail Mary' as their next feature project. They were presented with the manuscript and Ryan Gosling's attachment, prompting a quick decision. They consulted Aditya Sood, who runs their company and was also involved with 'The Martian.' The directors were immediately drawn to the project due to its inherent filmmaking challenges, such as portraying a non-human character, and its central theme of friendship.
They assessed whether they were the right fit for the story, concluding that their 'animation brains' would be particularly beneficial for realizing the emotional depth of the character and narrative.
Miller explained that their 'animation brain' profoundly contributes to a unique visual language and tone in their films. Lessons learned from the 'Spider-Verse' movies, particularly regarding innovative camera movement and orientation in a gravity-free environment, were directly applied to 'Project Hail Mary' to create groundbreaking depictions of space. Lord noted that their animation background, which involves designing every single element from scratch based on the story, deeply informs their live-action approach. This distinctive perspective led to decisions like portraying the ship in 'Project Hail Mary' as a diverse, quilted structure and thoughtfully evolving the depiction of space from inhospitable to warm and inviting throughout the film.
Past and Future Projects
The directors reflected on their experience with 'Solo: A Star Wars Story.' Lord stated that despite the change in directors, they gained significant learning experiences and collaborated with many talented individuals, several of whom reunited for 'Project Hail Mary.' Miller confirmed that they successfully brought back key department heads, such as Neil Scanlan's creature shop team, from their 'Solo' production.
They described their directorial approach as consistent across projects, focusing on originality, honoring source material, and fostering an environment that encourages spontaneity and the creative input of the entire team, even within meticulously planned, large-scale productions.
Regarding their ability to enjoy 'Star Wars' after their 'Solo' experience, Miller stated that the series 'Andor' helped him reconnect due to its exceptional storytelling quality. Lord cited Rian Johnson's 'Episode Eight' ('The Last Jedi') as the film that personally restored his enjoyment of the franchise during the pandemic, noting its fresh approach to evolving legacy narratives.
Lord and Miller confirmed they are currently in the midst of producing 'Beyond the Spider-Verse,' diligently allocating time to it alongside other projects. Miller detailed the extensive production stage, including animation, storyboards, and animatics, noting that the film is continuously evolving and is scheduled for release. He described it as the most emotional of the three 'Spider-Verse' films, featuring advanced visual techniques and the valuable collaboration with live-action Director of Photography, Alice Brooks. Lord reflected on the previous film's release timeline, stating that meeting the initial announced date was not physically possible but ultimately resulted in an interesting film.
Regarding future projects, Lord confirmed that an 'Archie' movie is currently in development with a script in progress. The directors also discussed the possibility of a third '21 Jump Street' film. Lord expressed deep affection for the franchise but cited scheduling difficulties and cast members, such as Jonah Hill directing films, as significant obstacles to a sequel. Lord also expressed keen interest in the previously considered '21 Jump Street/Men in Black' crossover concept.