As Project Hail Mary dominates the box office, fans are glued to the galaxies seen on screen.
The science fiction film, based on the 2021 novel written by Andy Weir, has been hailed as nostalgic “escapist entertainment” in a world where hope still exists.
Following Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), a middle school science teacher who is tasked with travelling to space to save the world, a UK studio and English destinations doubled as spacescapes.
From a Portsmouth pier to Cambridge observatory, here are the key locations behind the sci-fi space mission.
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Project Hail Mary UK filming locations
Shepperton Studios, Surrey
Production for the film primarily took place across sound studios and backlots at Shepperton Studios in Surrey. Backdrops were used to create many of the space scenes, alien characters and the Hail Mary ship interiors across the historic studios’ 31 stages.
South Parade Pier, Portsmouth
In October 2024, Gosling was spotted filming on Southsea’s Victorian pleasure pier. Arcade areas, the boardwalk and seascapes doubled as scenes from Ryland Grace’s pre-mission life. South Parade Pier originally opened in 1879, with amusement arcades, fishing access and a restaurant. The pier reopened to the public in 2017 following restoration efforts after several fires.
Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cambridge University
Cameras also rolled across Cambridge with scenes filmed at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory. The working observatory site, part of the University of Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory, was established in 1957 and houses several significant radio telescopes. Although the site is generally private, public tours are sometimes on offer during events like the Open Cambridge festival.
Read more: Project Hail Mary becomes highest grossing film of the year in the US
