RYAN GOSLING’S ‘PROJECT HAIL MARY’ PREMIERES IN NYC, DRAWS A-LISTERS TO LA PRESS SCREENING AMID BUZZ. (PHOTO).

 Ryan Gosling’s ‘Project Hail Mary’ premieres in NYC, draws A-listers to LA press screening amid buzz

The premiere of Project Hail Mary in New York was a spectacle in itself, though the logistics raised eyebrows. 

With temperatures hovering at a frigid 30 degrees, the red carpet was set up outside on Josie Robertson Plaza, far from the theater entrance at Lincoln Center. 

This arrangement forced stars to trek across the plaza, delaying the screening by nearly an hour. Despite the hiccups, the film running 156 minutes was well received by the audience, showing strong engagement throughout the night.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles hosted a quieter press screening at IMAX’s Playa Vista headquarters. 

Though less glamorous, it drew notable industry figures, including showrunner Bill Lawrence, who mingled with trade reporters and even offered directions to hidden snack spots in the office complex. 

Former SNL star Taran Killam and THR’s Scott Feinberg were also spotted, underscoring the film’s growing buzz. 

Based on Andy Weir’s best-selling novel and directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the sci-fi epic stars Ryan Gosling as a lone scientist tasked with saving humanity.

Commercially, Project Hail Mary is tracking impressively, with projections of a $70–$78 million opening weekend and a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score. 

While its release timing may not scream “Oscar season,” Gosling’s performance and the film’s technical achievements could position it as a contender. Amazon/MGM Studios, still recovering from the underwhelming Crime 101, is banking on this project to deliver a win. 

Insiders suggest they may look to the success of Sinners which opened earlier in the year and went on to win four Oscars as a model for how Project Hail Mary might navigate awards season momentum.