How a Mistake Made ‘Project Hail Mary’s’ Rocky Into a Breakout Star
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- In the movie "Project Hail Mary," Ryan Gosling stars alongside an alien character named Rocky, whose jittery personality was initially inspired by a misunderstanding from the lead puppeteer and voice actor, James Ortiz.
- Ortiz believed that time on Rocky’s home planet, Erid, moved faster than on Earth, which influenced his portrayal of Rocky's energetic and anxious behavior.
- Later, Ortiz learned from author Andy Weir that Eridian time actually moves slower than Earth time, contradicting his original interpretation.
- Despite the correction, Ortiz decided to maintain Rocky’s anxious demeanor, attributing it to the character’s personality rather than the time difference.
