Ryan Gosling involved his daughters in the production of his latest film, Project Hail Mary, by having them voice the alien character while he stayed in scene. The actor shared this unique experience with People during a recent interview, highlighting how his children contributed to the movie off-camera to help him maintain his performance.
The Story Behind Project Hail Mary and Rocky
The film follows the journey of a science teacher, portrayed by Gosling, who is sent into space to save humankind. During his mission, he encounters an alien named Rocky, who accompanies him in the quest. Although the character Rocky is originally voiced by James Ortiz, Gosling’s daughters took turns speaking for the alien during some scenes.
How the Daughters Brought Rocky to Life
Ryan explained that when he needed a break or wanted to shift his approach during filming, his daughters would step in to voice Rocky through an earpiece he wore.
“Sometimes when I was working and I needed to sort of switch things up or whatever, my kids would come in and I had an earpiece in my ear and they would talk for Rocky, so I could talk to them as Rocky,”
Gosling said.
He shared how special this interaction was, describing moments of genuine charm and laughter:
“And there’s some moments in the movie where I’m laughing or I’m just so charmed by him, which is like, it’s actually my kids talking to me and helping me out,”
he added, referring to his daughters Esmeralda Amada, 11, and Amada Lee, 9.
Children’s Involvement Throughout Film Production
Gosling revealed that both girls watched multiple cuts of the movie and actively provided feedback.
“They’ve seen many cuts of this film,”
he noted. “They’ve given me many notes.” He also recounted a lighthearted moment from pre-production when his daughter complimented his look:
“When I was trying on stuff for the character and my daughter came by, and she was like, ‘You look smart in glasses.’ And I was like, ‘I need to look smart in this, so I will thank you for that.’”
Significance of Family Engagement in Film
This behind-the-scenes collaboration illustrates how Ryan Gosling’s family played an important role in bringing his project to life, adding a personal and heartfelt dimension to his performance. Their involvement likely made the process more enjoyable and helped him stay connected with his character during filming, enriching the final portrayal of the science teacher and his alien companion in Project Hail Mary.
