Project Hail Mary writers say nuking Antarctica was hardest cut

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s film Project Hail Mary remains close to Andy Weir’s novel, but Weir and screenwriter Drew Goddard say one major sequence had to be removed: nuking Antarctica. "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," Weir says. The book spends more time on Earth’s response to the astrophage crisis than the movie does, showing scientists developing the ship, building a giant astrophage-breeding farm in the Sahara to power the mission, and attempting to slow Earth’s cooling by detonating nuclear bombs in Antarctica to release trapped methane and water vapor and create a greenhouse effect.

Goddard called the Antarctic sequence "such a bold story choice," saying it captured the desperation at the heart of the novel. He added that the film’s "soul" is the relationship between Ryland Grace and Rocky, so prioritizing their story meant some Earthside scenes had to go.

hail mary, andy weir, phil lord, christopher miller, drew goddard, nuking antarctica, astrophage, ryland grace, rocky, sahara farm