Ryan Gosling is sharing deeper insight into what is motivating his work, most notably his latest film, Project Hail Mary.
Based on the 2021 Andy Weir novel of the same name, the sci-fi adventure film centers around a science teacher-turned-astronaut, Dr. Ryland Grace, who is stranded on a space shuttle with an extraterrestrial he names "Rocky," and the two form an unlikely friendship.
© Getty ImagesThe film isn't even in theaters yet, set for a March 20 wide release, but early reviews have already lavished the film with praise and acclaim, highlighting it for its visual spectacle and wholesome, family-friendly vibe.
Doing it for them
Sure enough, it turns out that was a large part of the goal behind Ryan's decision to accept the project, telling Sheinelle Jones and guest co-host Nia Long on the Fourth Hour of TODAY just as much during his appearance on March 18.
Sheinelle noted that sometimes, actors mention wanting to do projects that their kids can see, and wondered whether that was the same for Ryan concerning his two daughters with Eva Mendes, 11-year-old Esmeralda and nine-year-old Amada.
"Eva and I would love to have one of those core memory moments in a movie theater with our kids, like we had them," he noted. "And we haven't really had that."
He continued to share that it was about bringing some joy and light to their daughters' lives amid all the doom and gloom in the world currently around them. "So much of what they see out there is designed to scare them, and there's a sense of hopelessness about it."
© Rex Images"We wanted to make something that was not just for them, but, not to be too lofty, for their generation. Something about science, and making STEM cool," Ryan explained, with Nia herself opining that it imbues a deeper love for "imagination" in kids as well. "And to believe in the competency of human beings," he added.
His biggest critics
The La La Land star further also shared a sweet anecdote from the making of the movie to point out his daughters' involvement, revealing that his character's signature glasses are actually a suggestion from one of his girls.
"I was playing with the character and threw on some glasses, I thought, 'This is cliche to wear glasses to wear a scientist,' and my daughter was like, 'You do look smarter in glasses.'"
© Getty ImagesHe recently relayed the same anecdote to People, elaborating on how his girls were part of his fashion choices for the film. "They've seen many cuts of this film," he said of Project Hail Mary, adding that they've already given him "many notes."
"When I was trying on stuff for the character and my daughter came by, and she was like, 'You look smart in glasses.' And I was like, 'I need to look smart in this, so I will thank you for that.'"
© Amazon MGM StudiosThe Project Hail Mary squad
Project Hail Mary also stars Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub and Priya Kansara, plus the voice and puppeteering talents of James Ortiz as Rocky. Filmmaking duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are at the helm of the project.
