Brandon Sanderson Praises Project Hail Mary for Its Key Achievement

Brandon Sanderson, the prolific fantasy author known for his expansive Cosmere novels, is just as quick with his pop culture insights as he is with his writing. His enthusiasm for storytelling is palpable, so it was exciting to see his thoughts on the film adaptation of Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel. Sanderson previously declared it his “favorite science fiction novel” in years, so expectations were high for his take on the movie, which, while largely faithful, takes some creative liberties to enhance the narrative.

“Fantastic.”

Sanderson finds himself in a unique position as he evaluates this highly anticipated adaptation, especially since he’s currently 55 percent through adapting his own novel, Mistborn, for Apple. He’s been candid about previous adaptation attempts that failed to capture the essence of his work, making his perspective on Project Hail Mary particularly insightful. In his YouTube review, he approaches the film from the viewpoint of a writer navigating the adaptation process.

“As someone who’s working on the screenplay for an adaptation of his own book, I think I appreciate an excellent adaptation even more than I used to,” he stated. “They took the book and seemed to know expertly how to adapt it for a broader audience. It’s a bit less focused on the science and more on relationships, which I think is a smart choice […] It feels reminiscent of classic science fiction films from the ’80s or ’90s, but with modern special effects and filmmaking techniques. So it’s an excellent film. An easy 10 out of 10. Go see the movie.”

There’s plenty for Sanderson to appreciate in the film version of Project Hail Mary. He praises how the adaptation shifts some of the hard science to emphasize character development and relationships, ultimately making it a stronger narrative—especially regarding Rocky, Ryan Gosling’s alien companion. The film strikes a balance of humor, emotion, and spectacle, making it a must-see on the biggest screen available. It’s hard not to wonder how characters like Vin, Helsier, and Dockson will be portrayed when Mistborn makes its Hollywood debut.

Andy Weir himself has expressed, “I wish that I had done it that way in the book.”

However, Sanderson doesn’t view Project Hail Mary as perfect. He notes that the film’s structure isn’t as tight as the book’s, particularly towards the end: “It does feel like the endings are rushed a little bit […] and they may have spent too much time on certain aspects, like how long it takes to start communicating with Rocky.” This tradeoff—lingering on some moments while speeding through others—reflects the kind of adaptation challenges Sanderson enjoys analyzing. He also feels that some of the book’s deeper elements didn’t translate well to film. The twist involving Grace lacks impact without the internal monologue, and the science is simplified to the point where it sometimes feels like a checklist of “this is the next thing we need to do.” Still, the film is enjoyable overall. Adaptations will always have their quirks.

Ultimately, Sanderson couldn’t resist expressing a desire that sounds like a hopeful vision for his own cinematic future. He wants to see an Artemis movie, but more importantly, he wants to see science fiction and fantasy done right—just like Project Hail Mary.

“More of this Hollywood, please. A lot more of this.”

“It wasn’t like the studio did it. I was the one that was like, I think we got to cut it, guys. But I’m still sad about it.”