One of the-anticipated sci-fi motion pictures of 2026 is upon us. Hailing from administrators Phil Lord and Chris Miller (“21 Bounce Avenue,” “The LEGO Film”), “Undertaking Hail Mary” is now in theaters. Based mostly on the best-selling novel of the identical identify by Andy Weir, it is arguably the primary true blue blockbuster of the yr. And to date, it hasn’t disenchanted.
Ryan Gosling stars in what /Movie’s Ethan Anderton has known as top-of-the-line sci-fi motion pictures ever. It is that good. “Undertaking Hail Mary” facilities on Ryland Grace (Gosling), a science instructor who wakes up on a spaceship gentle years from dwelling with no reminiscence of how he received there. Nonetheless, he shortly realizes he should use all of his data to avoid wasting Earth from destruction.
Gosling is an A-list star who wants no introduction, from his Oscar-nominated position within the blockbuster “Barbie” to his work in “La La Land” and all the pieces in between. However what in regards to the crew members (and the actors behind them) supporting Ryland on his quest to avoid wasting humanity in Gosling’s newest cinematic effort? We’ll take a deeper take a look at the supporting ensemble in “Undertaking Hail Mary,” letting you recognize why they may look acquainted and the place you’ve got seen them earlier than. Let’s get into it.
Milana Vayntrub performs Olesya Ilyukhina in Undertaking Hail Mary
Milana Vayntrub performs a key member of the crew in “Undertaking Hail Mary,” specifically Olesya Ilyukhina. She’s completely going to look acquainted to a number of viewers, in no small half as a result of she’s been Lily in AT&T’s commercials for years now. However she’s additionally a well-known actor and comic who has been working steadily in Hollywood for the reason that early 2000s.
A few of Vayntrub’s earliest roles got here in reveals like “Days of Our Lives” and “Lizzie McGuire,” however these had been bit components that in all probability would not garner a lot recognition lately. Extra trendy viewers are much more more likely to acknowledge her for her work as Sloane Sandberg on “This Is Us” and even her temporary stint on “Silicon Valley” as Tara.
Alternatively, some may know Vayntrub finest for taking part in Cecily in director Josh Ruben’s “Werewolves Inside,” which stays one of the best reviewed online game film ever made, amazingly sufficient. A few of her different film credit embrace “Out of Workplace” and 2016’s “Ghostbusters,” though she’s completed much more episodic TV. She even confirmed up as herself a number of instances on the sport present “After Midnight.”
In the meantime, Marvel followers could also be accustomed to her as the voice of Squirrel Lady from the Marvel podcast “The Unbeatable Radio Present.” She was initially alleged to painting the character in a live-action “New Warriors” TV present that was scrapped, however Vayntrub has since voiced Squirrel Lady a number of instances, together with within the recreation “Marvel Rivals.” Moreover, Vayntrub has completed a number of visitor spots on common sequence, showing in all the pieces from “The League” to “Home of Lies” and even Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”
Ken Leung performs Yáo Li-Jie in Undertaking Hail Mary
Those that have seen “Undertaking Hail Mary” will acknowledge Ken Leung as Yáo Li-Jie, however viewers are additionally going to have that, “I do know I’ve seen him earlier than” thought. That is since you undoubtedly have. Leung is a really versatile character actor with a long time of expertise below his belt in motion pictures and tv. People who find themselves followers of HBO’s “Trade” will acknowledge him as Eric Tao, for example, however that is simply the beginning of his spectacular resume.
Certainly, “Star Wars” followers will know Leung for taking part in Admiral Statura in “The Drive Awakens,” one of many largest motion pictures of all time. A few of his different movie credit embrace M. Evening Shyamalan’s “Outdated,” “X-Males: The Final Stand,” “Vanilla Sky,” and “Inside Man,” amongst others. Talking of “X-Males,” that is not his solely Marvel credit score. Moderately, Leung moreover performed Karnak on “Inhumans,” a undertaking that, sorry to say, ranks as Marvel’s lowest-rated present on Rotten Tomatoes.
Setting that apart, Leung has been part of some enormous TV sequence in his day. He portrayed Miles on the tv game-changer that was “Misplaced” and appeared in a number of episodes of “Particular person of Curiosity,” “The Blacklist,” and even an episode of “The Sopranos.” Extra just lately, the actor has been an important a part of Netflix’s live-action “Avatar: The Final Airbender” TV present, bringing Commander Zhao to life.
Lastly, horror followers may acknowledge Leung as Detective Steven Sing, a key a part of the gory field workplace hit turned franchise launcher that was the primary “Noticed” film. So, with out itemizing each single certainly one of his credit, it is easy to see why Leung would ring a bell. He is completed a complete lot throughout 30 years within the biz.
Liv Kingsman performs Annie Shapiro in Undertaking Hail Mary
What about Annie Shapiro, one other key member of the crew in “Undertaking Hail Mary” alongside Ryan Gosling’s Ryland? She’s performed by Liv Kingsman. An actor with a couple of decade’s value of expertise below her belt, Kingsman has starred in a number of episodic tv, in addition to one of many largest field workplace hits of 2025.
Maybe most notably, Kingsman performed Lisbeth Bampton alongside Brad Pitt and Damson Idris in final yr’s “F1,” a movie that has received Greatest Sound on the Oscars on prime of being nominated for Greatest Image. Other than that, although, the majority of her on display work up so far has been on the earth of tv, together with the European comedy sequence “Parlement” (wherein she performs Rose Pilkington).
Earlier than that, a few of her earliest credit had been on the earth of comedy, as she starred in reveals like “Poll Monkeys” and “Energy Monkeys,” in addition to “Borderline.” She additionally appeared in “Timewasters,” “Small City Politics,” “Down from London,” and “The Sensible World of Tom Gates,” amongst others. Undoubtedly, European audiences will probably be extra accustomed to her work at this level (although she did star alongside Idris Elba in Apple TV’s “Hijack”).
Kingsman has some main tasks developing as effectively, together with “Sensible Magic 2” with returning stars Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. She’s even enjoying Anne de Bourgh in Netflix’s creating sequence adaptation of “Pleasure and Prejudice.”
Malachi Kirby performs Martin Dubois in Undertaking Hail Mary
Lastly, we arrive at Martin Dubois, performed by Malachi Kirby. He is an actor who’s been working fairly steadily for about 15 years, however he seems to be approaching a breakout section of his profession. That is in no small half because of his work as Hezekiah Moscow in “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight’s Hulu sequence “A Thousand Blows.”. That is Kirby’s most well-known position in the meanwhile, but it surely’s removed from his solely recognizable work.
Kirby has completed fairly a little bit of different tv work over time, together with, however not restricted to, a stint on “EastEnders,” “Option to Go,” 2015’s “Jekyll and Hyde” miniseries, and the 2016 remake of “Roots” as Kunta Kinte. He additionally starred in “Males In opposition to Fireplace,” an episode of “Black Mirror” that was impressed by an actual struggle documentary. Equally, “Physician Who” followers might acknowledge him as Gastron from the season 9 episode “Hell Bent.”
A few of his different notable credit embrace the miniseries “Small Axe,” the TV sequence “Devils,” and the present “Curfew.” Moreover co-starring in “Undertaking Hail Mary,” he is moreover lending his skills to the star-studded online game “Squadron 42.”
“Undertaking Hail Mary” begins its Thursday night preview screenings tonight.
