Project Hail Mary fans hoping for a sequel will want to hear what Andy Weir is writing now
Andy Weir has spelt out where his next novel stands — and, along the way, put the Project Hail Mary sequel question to bed.
If you were hoping Andy Weir might rush back into space for a Project Hail Mary sequel, you might want to sit down. There's news, and it's fairly straight: he's got another book on the go, but it isn't what fans might expect.
Weir told ScreenRant his next project is "another standalone novel, not a sequel to anything, and that's coming along well."
No New Hail Mary, Yet
Anyone still clinging to rumours about Grace and Rocky getting another outing can let go for now. Andy Weir isn't revisiting Project Hail Mary, at least not until he stumbles on an idea that actually excites him. That's been the party line for ages, and nothing's changed. The original novel was one of those rare hits that marries accessible science with a genuinely entertaining ride—plus memory loss, alien goo, and a spaceship called Hail Mary. It did so well that Ryan Gosling signed on for the film adaptation, which managed to haul in $684 million worldwide and landed a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score. Not exactly a quiet success.
$684 million at the box office for Project Hail Mary.
Meanwhile, Weir isn't exactly putting his feet up. In addition to writing, he executive produced Exoplanet, an Audible-original audiobook from Benjamin Percy. The cast isn't too shabby: Anthony Mackie, Ariana DeBose, and John Leguizamo. That one lands exclusively on Audible 5 November.
What's Next for Weir?
The new book on Weir's desk—whatever he ends up calling it—has apparently crossed the 95,000-word mark and is deep into its third act. But don't get too eager. Once he finishes, the whole thing goes off to his editor, and that's when the rewrite pain starts. According to Weir, he spends three days after getting notes just "crying and questioning whether or not I should really be an author", then cracks on with the edits. In typical publishing fashion, this means the final release is probably a year out, even if everything goes smoothly.
- Project Hail Mary sequel: not currently in the works
- New standalone novel: 95,000+ words, Weir is drafting the third act
- Exoplanet (audio, starring Mackie, DeBose, Leguizamo): releases 5 November, Audible exclusive
- Project Hail Mary film: Ryan Gosling-led, $684 million global take, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes