James Ortiz, the New York theater artist and puppeteer behind Project Hail Mary, has been working alongside Ryan Gosling for months on a London set. He provided the voice and overseeing the puppetry for the rock-like alien named Rocky, who is on a mission to save his home planet's star when he meets Gosling's Ryland Grace. Despite the film being a $190 million production, filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller asked Ortiz and Gosling to improvise long takes like it was a theater production. The film, which has passed $322 million globally, is currently the biggest hit of the year. Ortiz credits Gosling with his performance and commitment to over-prepare for the cameras.