A Word with the Bird: Lionel Boyce on Space, Fear and ‘Project Hail Mary’

“Project Hail Mary,” directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, is a breathtaking adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name. The film centers around science teacher Ryland Grace’s (Ryan Gosling) eventful mission to stop the sun from dying, including flashbacks of the mission’s lead-up and the help of robot Rocky.

Enter Carl (Lionel Boyce), an intimidating yet playful security agent who becomes Grace’s friend and helps him research. 

Ahead of the film’s release, The Phoenix sat down with Emmy-nominated actor Lionel Boyce to talk about the film, space and fear. Both questions and answers have been edited for clarity.

Before signing on to do this project, were you familiar with the novel, and have you read it since joining this film?

Well, the answer to both of those is no. I knew the novel because I’d seen “The Martian,” and I was familiar with Andy Weir and knew he was a big deal in the sci-fi world. I’d never read it, but I heard good things. And then I read the script, and I was like, “This is one of the best scripts I’ve ever read, I should read the book,” and I still haven’t. But I hear the audiobook is incredible too, so maybe I’ll just listen to that when I get back and just drive in my car.

What was it about this script that made you want to be a part of telling this story?

I think it’s just a feeling. You know, it’s rare when things make you actually feel, and you’re like, “Wow, this is cool, I’m feeling something,” and I felt that reading this script. This script has so much heart, and it’s a really well-told story with a cool, interesting structure and a purpose behind its message. It’s about connection and real human things, so I thought that was worth being a part of, even if I throw peanuts in the background, and also everyone involved I was a fan of, so yeah, this was a no-brainer.

Your scenes with Ryan were enjoyable, and it seemed as if there was a strong sense of camaraderie between the two of you. How did you and Ryan prepare for filming these scenes and build your bond during production?

I think a lot of that came from the filmmakers Chris Miller and Phil Lord. With Ryan, they had been working on the movie for like six to seven months before I even got there. They shot all the space stuff before I got there, so it was like they had a handle on it. They knew what they wanted from this. I think it just kinda came in a spark, “This is fun! Let’s just chase this rabbit hole and watch this relationship develop,” and I think it was important for Ryan’s character to have this connection to give something to ground him to Earth.

With each project you’re part of, do you learn something new about yourself with each character? If so, what have you learned about yourself in this film?

I think so. I think you’re learning something regardless, because it’s like learning through expression, where it’s like, either there’s something that you didn’t know and it’s unfamiliar that you express, or something that you know and don’t like to and getting to express that. I think with this, it was fun coming from “The Bear,” where I’m playing such a warm, affectionate character, and I feel like if I think of it abstractly, “The Bear”’s character is warm and curves, and this character was angular and more sharp and direct, so it was fun to play that. Something I learned is to have fun playing, specifically with just the timing of banter and being sharp, and banter within the sharpness. 

A central theme of this film is bravery and selflessness. What are some of the most courageous things you’ve done or witnessed?

It’s funny to witness courageous things because it feels like “Well, I wasn’t courageous, I watched it.” I don’t know, I never think about courage and these things. I think I always find myself thinking about it in this form whenever I see friends do stand-up things and stick themselves out. I think I have protection for people who help others when they see someone having hardships. I think that’s the hardest thing, looking for connection in places where it’s not so easy to do it. It’s easy to connect with people off of happiness and all these happy things, and sometimes it’s easy to comfort someone, but connecting with someone and letting your shield down to honestly make them feel like you’re having a mutual symbiotic conversation about whatever’s happening or what’s going on is courageous. I’ve watched it and been a part of it. My version of courage is that I don’t like to open up and express myself, so whenever I find myself doing that, I’m like, “Wow, okay, that was good.”

Through your facial expressions, smile and playful banter with Ryan’s character, you reveal a lighthearted side to Carl. Are you aware of the impact you can have on a scene’s tone and mood with just your facial expressions?

No, that’s nice, but no. I think that’s the directors and the editors. You’re just giving them pieces to do that. Tone is so funny because as an actor, you have no control over the tone, and that’s the director’s job and what they’re doing. I think about it in colors. I gave them a color to paint within that specific collage of what they’re trying to make. 

There’s a moment when Ryan’s character, Grace, is afraid of doing this mission, and Carl says something along the lines of, “You got this, you know who you are.” Have there been moments in your life when fear or doubt has almost kept you from doing something, and how did you overcome this?

Yeah, I take fear specifically with any creative endeavor or a mitigated risk. Obviously, real danger is real danger, and if you’re feeling fear in obvious scenarios, you should probably not, but anything outside of the obvious common sense, I take fear as the only thing that lets me know I should do something. If you’re resisting something, you can strip everything away, and realize fear is the only thing stopping you, then it’s like a duty you must do because you’re always rewarded for running towards the fear. Brave people aren’t actually brave; they just do it in spite of fear. 

Are you a fan of the sci-fi genre? What are some of your favorite films?

Yeah, I love sci-fi. I love all movies. I love Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune,’ I love ‘Minority Report,’ and I love ‘Back to the Future’ parts one and two. I love so many sci-fi movies. I’m a fan of sci-fi. 

Is there a certain genre you want to do for your next project?

Not a specific genre. There are things I find interesting that will be fun to do, like psychological thrillers; I’ve always been into those. But, honestly, it’s, like, whatever makes sense, and the next thing is whatever makes me feel something, where I’m like, “That seems exciting! Cool, let’s go!”

With more and more people going to space, if given the opportunity to hop on the next star-studded rocket ship, would you go?

Yup, I would. I’ve had this conversation with friends where I’m like, “If I had the opportunity to go to space, I would go,” and they’re like, “You’re crazy,” and I’m like, “But why not? It’s the one place you have no way of seeing in any other way than going in a rocket ship.” I don’t know, I think it’s cool. Since I was a kid, I was like, “I’d go to space.”

Even after the mission Ryan Gosling’s character goes on, you’d still go?

Yeah! I was like, “Wow, that’s crazy! That would be me, I guess, if I were there.”

Adding to that, if you could bring 3 costars with you on your voyage to space, who would you bring?

Tyler [the Creator] and Ayo [Edebiri] cause I hang out with them, and that would make it easy. And then my other friends, Travis [Bennett] and Jasper [Dolphin]. I don’t know if any of them would want to go to space, so I feel like I’d still end up alone because I feel like anyone I’d invite would say no, so I guess my answer is myself. 

“Project Hail Mary” is in theaters March 20.