Ryan Gosling's 'Project Hail Mary' Premieres in Chilly NYC

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The world premiere of the sci-fi film 'Project Hail Mary' starring Ryan Gosling took place at Lincoln Center in New York City on Wednesday, despite the chilly 30-degree weather compared to the 85-degree temperatures in Los Angeles. Spies at the event said the long distance between the red carpet and the theater caused delays, with the stars' trek from the carpet to the theater pushing back the start of the film by an hour. Meanwhile, a less starry press screening was held the same day in LA, where showrunner Bill Lawrence was spotted.

Why it matters

The premiere of 'Project Hail Mary' is an important event for Amazon and MGM Studios, as the film is expected to be a box office hit and potentially an awards contender. The logistical challenges faced at the NYC premiere highlight the difficulties of holding major film events in different climates and locations.

The details

The 156-minute film based on Andy Weir's best-selling novel reportedly played well with the New York crowd, despite the disjointed nature of the event due to the distance between the red carpet and the theater. Sources said the trek from the carpet to the theater delayed the start by an hour. In Los Angeles, a less starry press screening was held at IMAX's Playa Vista headquarters, where showrunner Bill Lawrence was spotted and even shared tips on how to find snacks within the office complex.

• The world premiere of 'Project Hail Mary' took place on Wednesday, March 21, 2026 in New York City.
• A less starry press screening was held the same day, March 21, 2026, in Los Angeles.

What’s next

Amazon and MGM Studios are hoping that 'Project Hail Mary' can follow a similar path to success as their previous film 'Sinners', which opened in April and went on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Original Screenplay.