Andy Weir is once again at the center of Hollywood’s sci-fi conversation, but this time the spotlight is stretching beyond “Project Hail Mary.” In an interview with Den of Geek, the author recently weighed in on the long-developing adaptation of his novel “Artemis,” offering a rare public thought on who could anchor the film if it finally moves forward.
A Long-Delayed Sci-Fi Project Finds New Momentum
The renewed interest comes as the picture directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and starring Ryan Gosling continues to perform strongly following its March 19 release. The movie’s critical and commercial success has brought fresh attention to Weir’s earlier work.
Unlike the survival-driven scale of “Project Hail Mary,” “Artemis” is set in a lunar city and follows Jazz Bashara, a smuggler pulled into a high-stakes conspiracy. The adaptation, announced in 2017, remains in active development, with Lord and Miller still attached to direct and a script already completed, though the production has faced technical challenges.
Asked about potential casting, Weir didn’t list options, quickly pointing to one actress he could see leading the film. “I mean, it’d be pretty cool and I have no say in any of this but if someone like Jenna Ortega would do it,” he said, before reiterating, “It would be pretty cool. Something like that.”
At this stage, no lead actor has been officially attached to the project, despite earlier reports linking Gosling in a different capacity. The movie remains under the umbrella of 20th Century Studios and New Regency, with Geneva Robertson-Dworet credited for the screenplay.
