Ryan Gosling transforms into bookish school teacher turned astronaut as he films science fiction movie Project Hail Mary in miserable conditions on a Hampshire pier

He can count oddball loners, crack addicted history teachers, the first man on the moon and, more recently, Mattel’s enduringly popular Ken Doll among his colourful list of characters. 

But Ryan Gosling looked comparatively subdued as he filmed his latest project in rainy conditions on South Parade Pier in Southsea on Sunday.   

The American actor, 43, faced the elements in a yellow raincoat while shooting scenes with a co-star in the Hampshire coastal town. 

Ryan plays bookish school-teacher turned astronaut Ryland Grace in forthcoming science fiction film Project Hail Mary, adapted from author Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name. 

Dressed in his character’s striped shirt, maroon tie and circular spectacles, the actor looked relaxed while idling with members of the production team between takes.  

Ryan Gosling chatted to a co-star as he filmed Project Hail Mary in rainy conditions on South Parade Pier in Southsea on Sunday

The Barbie actor faced the elements in a yellow raincoat for the stormy seaside scenes 

He was later seen holding a phone while he listened to something through a pair of wired earphones. 

His appearance caused quite the frenzy among locals as dozens of film trucks and minibuses were parked up nearby with people flocking to the location to try and get a glimpse of the actor.

His starring role and producer title for the movie has been in talks for over four years and follows the adaptation of an earlier Weir novel, The Martian. 

That book was adapted into the critically and commercially successful film starring Matt Damon, which grossed $630 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

The film’s synopsis in IMDB reads: ‘Set in the near future, it centers on junior high (middle) school-teacher-turned-astronaut Ryland Grace (played by Ryan), who wakes up from a coma afflicted with amnesia. 

‘He gradually remembers that he was sent to the Tau Ceti solar system, 12 light-years from Earth, to find a means of reversing a solar dimming event that could cause the extinction of humanity.’

Project Hail Mary is reportedly set to be released on May, 20, 2026.

MGM acquired the new project in what is reportedly a seven-figure deal, and Ryan is understood to be producing it with Ken Kao. 

He layered the colourful garment over a blue and white striped shirt and a brown tweed blazer

Adding another pop of colour, Ryan finished his look with a burgundy tie and accessorised with a pair of circular glasses

In the scenes, Ryan was seen holding a phone while he listened to something through a pair of wired earphones. He then was seen hugging his co-star, who is yet to be identified

The film, about an astronaut tasked with saving Earth, is written by Andy Weir, whose novel The Martian was a hit for Matt Damon; shown with Damien Chazelle in 2018

Project Hail Mary should be right in Ryan’s wheelhouse, as he previously played a solitary, brooding version of Neil Armstrong in the biopic First Man.

Though the film was a hit with critics, who singled him out for his performance, audiences didn’t flock to it. 

Just prior to that, the La La Land star led the ambitious sequel Blade Runner 2049, which was praised by critics for its stunning visuals and his quietly emotional performance.

But the film failed to recoup its budget, possibly due to its lengthy runtime and the fact that the Harrison Ford–starring 1982 original was a box office failure, even if it’s now regarded as a cult classic.

Ryan’s only other movie since the Oscar-winning hit La La Land was the divisive arthouse drama Song To Song, in which he starred with Rooney Mara and Michael Fassbender for the legendary auteur Terrence Malick.

The film will likely be in Ryan’s wheelhouse, as he previously starred as the lonely, brooding Neil Armstrong in 2018’s First Man (pictured still from First Man)

Ryan producing turn with Project Hail Mary will be his first attempt at leading a production since his ill-fated 2014 directorial debut Lost River, which currently holds a 30 percent rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Project Hail Mary will likely be the third high-profile adaptation for Andy Weir.

The directing duo of Phil Lord and Chris Miller, best known for directing The Lego Movie, are currently working on an adaptation of his 2017 follow-up to The Martian, the science fiction novel Artemis.

Deadline reported in November that their production company is also developing an original idea from the scribe, as well as a graphic novel.

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