Ryan Gosling has undergone a dramatic transformation for his latest role in the upcoming sci-fi film Project Hail Mary. In the trailer, the 44-year-old actor is virtually unrecognisable, sporting long wavy brown hair and a scruffy beard after his character wakes from a coma in space.
Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a molecular biologist and teacher recruited to investigate why several stars, including the Sun, are slowly dying. The film, adapted from Andy Weir’s hit 2021 novel, is set for theatrical release on 20 March 2026.
Speaking at CinemaCon, Gosling described the project as “insanely ambitious” and “massive in scope”, adding, “That’s kind of our bag… This is why we go to the movies.” He also serves as a producer on the film.
This is not the first time Gosling has radically altered his appearance for a role. His blond-haired, tanned portrayal of Ken in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie provoked backlash, with critics calling him too old for the part. Gosling dismissed the criticism in an interview with GQ, saying, “If you ever really cared about Ken, you would know that nobody cared about Ken… Your hypocrisy is exposed.”
Despite the initial scepticism, Gosling received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his performance. His wife, Eva Mendes, shared her pride on Instagram, noting that “so much hate” came his way over the role, but he created “this completely original, hilarious, heartbreaking, now iconic character”.
