As Project Hail Mary dominates the box office, fans are eager to learn about the UK locations that brought the sci-fi film to life. The movie, based on Andy Weir's 2021 novel, stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a middle school teacher tasked with saving the world from space.
Production primarily took place at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, where sound stages and backlots were used to create space scenes, alien characters, and the Hail Mary ship interiors across the studio's 31 stages.
In October 2024, Gosling was spotted filming on Southsea's Victorian pleasure pier, South Parade Pier. The pier's arcade areas, boardwalk, and seascapes doubled as scenes from Grace's pre-mission life. Originally opened in 1879, the pier reopened in 2017 after restoration following several fires.
Cameras also rolled in Cambridge at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory. Established in 1957, the working observatory is part of the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory and houses several significant radio telescopes. While generally private, public tours are sometimes available during events like the Open Cambridge festival.
