Is Project Hail Mary’s Beloved Alien Headed for Oscar Gold in 2027?

Here’s a bit of awards season news I didn’t expect to write: a sentient alien–not a human in a leotard or some weird cartoon, but a puppet, kind of–might be in the running for a 2027 Oscar. I’m talking about Rocky from 'Project Hail Mary.' Yes, really. There’s actually a very real possibility that a non-human, constructed out of foam and cables, could snag a nomination in the supporting actor category. Welcome to the future, folks.

So Who (and What) is Rocky?

For anyone who hasn’t followed all the hype around 'Project Hail Mary,' Rocky is the scene-stealing alien who pals around with Ryan Gosling. He isn’t some Marvel-style CGI thing, either. Rocky comes to life thanks to James Ortiz, a stage performer and puppeteer, who handles both the movement and the voice. You see him (well, technically you see what Rocky wants you to see!) interact on-screen, making him arguably one of the heartbeats of the movie – no small feat in a big sci-fi production.

How Does a Puppet Earn Oscar Consideration?

This is where things get interesting. According to Variety, the Academy’s current rules actually allow for performances like Ortiz’s to be nominated in acting categories. That means Ortiz could end up in the mix alongside much more traditional human actors in the best supporting actor race, and that’s exactly what the studio is planning to do with his performance.

• Oscars: Ortiz (and Rocky) are a-okay for acting consideration in 2027.
• SAG Awards: Puppeteers like Ortiz fall under SAG-AFTRA, so they’re eligible over there, too.
• Critics Choice Awards: No rules to block a puppeteer, so Ortiz can run here as well.
• BAFTA: They’ve previously nominated performers for non-human roles (Eddie Murphy for 'Shrek,' for instance), so precedent exists.
• Golden Globes: The Golden Globes, being the Golden Globes, don’t currently allow this kind of performance. It’s traditional faces only for them, apparently.

What Happens if the Academy Gets Cold Feet?

There’s a catch: even with the current rules, this is uncharted territory. If, for some reason, the Academy decides Rocky doesn’t fit in traditional acting slots, they could shift gears and toss Ortiz a Special Achievement Award. They’ve done that in the past for boundary-pushing work (think 'Toy Story,' before the animated feature award existed), but it’s a more unpredictable route that depends on a lot of internal politics.

How Ortiz Approaches the Performance

The big takeaway here is that Ortiz isn’t viewing Rocky as a mere technical feat. He’s playing a character, heart and all. As he puts it:

'Typically, we talk about puppetry as a technical achievement, and it is. It’s a spectacle. For me as a performer, however, that’s never my entry point. I’m interested in the heart of the character.'

That’s the key to why this is even being discussed for an Oscar, rather than just being impressive creature work.

Could We See More Roles Like This in the Future?

If Rocky actually winds up with a nomination, it could open the door for more puppeteers and creators who aren’t technically 'on screen' in the conventional sense. Or, it might just be a one-off quirk that makes the 2027 Oscars a little more interesting than usual. Either way, keep an eye on this story if you like your awards season with a side of weirdness.