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In the new sci-fi film ‘Project Hail Mary’, the main character Ryan Gosling’s character toggles through pre-programmed voice options for an alien character he names Rocky, and one of the voices sounds an awful lot like Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep. The filmmakers confirmed that it was indeed Streep who provided the voice, after some initial hesitation and a ‘weird phone call’ to ask the legendary actress to participate.
Why it matters
The surprise Meryl Streep cameo in ‘Project Hail Mary’ is a delightful moment that showcases the film’s humor and the filmmakers’ creativity. It also demonstrates Streep’s versatility as an actress, as she was able to voice an alien character in a sci-fi film.
The details
Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller said they threw out a lot of different voice options for the alien character Rocky, including from the film’s stunt coordinator and Gosling’s own children who were visiting set that day. When they suggested Streep’s voice, they had to reach out to producer Amy Pascal, who had worked with Streep before, to ask the actress. Streep was hesitant at first, but eventually agreed and provided multiple takes of the voice. The filmmakers were careful not to give Streep any line reads, wanting to preserve her creative process.
The film ‘Project Hail Mary’ is in theaters now (March 2026).
The players
Phil Lord
Co-director of ‘Project Hail Mary’.
Christopher Miller
Co-director of ‘Project Hail Mary’.
The lead actor in ‘Project Hail Mary’, playing a middle school science teacher tasked with saving the world.
The acclaimed actress who provided the voice for an alien character in ‘Project Hail Mary’.
Amy Pascal
The film’s producer who had previously worked with Meryl Streep and helped facilitate her involvement.
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What they’re saying
“It’s a crazy joke to write, right? Because you’re like, Okay, if this works, someone’s going to have to make a really weird phone call.”
— Phil Lord, Co-director
“Then we had to ask Meryl Streep. Thankfully, Amy Pascal, our producer on the movie, had done ‘The Post’ and many, many movies with her. We’re like, ‘Amy, you’ve got to ask her.’”
— Christopher Miller, Co-director
“She was like, ‘Let’s do more. Give me a line read.’ I’m like, ‘I’m not going to give Meryl Streep a line read.’”
— Christopher Miller, Co-director
What’s next
The film ‘Project Hail Mary’ is in theaters now, so audiences can experience Meryl Streep’s surprise vocal cameo for themselves.
The takeaway
The unexpected Meryl Streep voice cameo in ‘Project Hail Mary’ showcases the film’s humor and the versatility of the acclaimed actress, further demonstrating her ability to take on unique and unexpected roles.