NYT 요약
What the ‘Project Hail Mary’ Directors Learned From a Firing
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/movies/project-hail-mary-phil-lord-christopher-miller.html
March 20, 2026
영화 Project Hail Mary의 감독 Phil Lord와 Christopher Miller는 원작을 읽었을 때 영화화하기 어려운 요소가 많아 오히려 딱 자기들 취향이었다고 함
Lord와 Miller의 전작들을 보면 영화화하기 어려운 내용이 많았음 (예: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, The Lego Movie)
이후 영화 작업을 하면서 해고되어 다른 감독이 영화를 완성한 경우도 있지만(Solo: A Star Wars Story), 아카데미상을 수상한 적도 있음(Spider-Verse)
(두 감독의 인터뷰에 따르면) Project Hail Mary는 세계를 구하려면 친구가 필요하다는 메시지를 담은 영화임
모두가 인류는 망했다고 생각하는 와중에 긍정적인 메시지를 던지므로 이 영화는 거의 반항적인 행위였음
관객들이 영화를 관람한 후 자신이 할 수 있는 일이 하나는 있다고 생각하게됐으면 좋겠음. 영화 주인공도 하나 - 미생물학 - 뺴고 다 못함
영화 Solo가 기대와 다르게 끝났지만, 아무도 뺴앗아갈 수 없는 교훈을 얻었으며, 그 때 알게 된 크루들이 Project Hail Mary 제작에 참여함
우리의 전략은 최선을 다하고 결과는 하늘에 맡기는 것임
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller of the film Project Hail Mary stated that when they read the original work, it contained many elements that were difficult to adapt into a film, which were right up their alley.
Their previous works include stories that were difficult to translate into movies (e.g., Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, 22 Jump Street, The Lego Movie).
They were once fired during film production and another director completed the movie (Solo: A Star Wars Story), then afterwards, they have won an Academy Award (Spider-Verse).
(According to interviews with the two directors) Project Hail Mary is a film that conveys the message that you need friends to save the universe.
It was almost contrarian to make a movie that’s so affirming about a topic that is on everyone’s mind, which is this idea that we’re doomed.
They hoped that after watching the movie, the audience would feel that there is at least one thing they can do. Even the movie protagonist couldn't do anything except for one thing—microbiology.
Although the movie 'Solo' ended differently than expected, they learned invaluable lessons that no one could take away, and the crew they met then participated in the production of 'Project Hail Mary'.
They said that their strategy is to do their best and then pray.