Andy Weir says next novel is a standalone; Project Hail Mary sequel only if idea is good

Centre · 2Andy Weir, author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary, said in interviews with Screen Rant and /Film that the novel he is writing now is "another standalone novel, not a sequel to anything." 1 2 Centre · 1Weir told Screen Rant, in an interview for Audible's Exoplanet, that he had passed about 95,000 words and was well into the third act of a first draft, which he will then send to his editor for notes. 1 Centre · 1He estimated it would be on the order of a year before the book is on shelves, and Screen Rant reads that as late 2027 or early 2028. 1 3

Centre · 1On a Project Hail Mary sequel, Weir told /Film he would be happy to write one if he got a good idea, but said he has had only "some okay ideas" and would "rather do no sequel at all than have one that's middling." 2 Centre · 2He said he will not force it, including because the film's star Ryan Gosling might not return in a few years, and told Screen Rant he is "waiting until I come up with something genuinely good and unique." 2 3 Centre · 1Weir also said that reports his next story is about AI are wrong: he did develop an AI story idea long ago, but wrote a little of it, judged it poor and moved on to something else. 1

Centre · 1/Film, by contrast, wrote that Weir's next book "may tackle" artificial intelligence but that this is unconfirmed. 2 Centre · 2Both outlets note the film adaptation, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, grossed $684 million worldwide; Screen Rant adds it holds a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and that Amazon is pushing it for 2027 Oscar contention. 2 3 Centre · 1/Film notes the book's ending is complete, and that the film changes it, which would complicate any sequel that Amazon wanted to adapt. 2

Centre · 1Screen Rant's analysis says a sequel book is likely years away, with a film possibly not before 2028 or 2029 and perhaps 2030 or later, given Weir's gaps of six and four years between earlier novels and Gosling's schedule, which includes Marvel's Ghost Rider. 3 Centre · 1Screen Rant also reports that Lord and Miller said in February 2026 they think they have worked out how to film Artemis, and that Weir executive-produced the Audible original Exoplanet, due on 5 November. 3 1