What is the name of Ryan Gosling's character in Project Hail Mary?

Ryan Gosling’s character in Project Hail Mary is named Ryland Grace.

Grace is a middle-school science teacher and former molecular biologist who becomes central to humanity’s attempt to survive a stellar crisis. He wakes aboard the spacecraft Hail Mary with severe amnesia and gradually reconstructs both his personal history and the mission’s purpose.

The name is easy to confuse with other science-fiction protagonists. Mark Watney is Matt Damon’s character in The Martian, while Roy McBride is Brad Pitt’s astronaut in Ad Astra. Cooper Adams is not Grace’s name or a principal character in Project Hail Mary.

Grace’s name also carries a thematic connection to the title: the phrase “Hail Mary” describes a desperate, low-probability attempt, while “Grace” echoes the religious wording of the expression. The character originated in Andy Weir’s 2021 novel, which was adapted into the 2026 film starring Ryan Gosling.