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Beautiful panorama of Alex Ross DC Comics artwork. I've long been a fan of his covers and graphic novels. The booth attendee asked if I wanted to be in it, but I declined; no need to see my tired old ass among all those bodies seemingly sculpted out of Greek mythology, thanks...
Since there was no way my knees would allow me to camp out all day for the big Hall H panel for the movie version of "Project Hail Mary" (starring Ryan Gosling) at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, I did the next best thing and attended the Project Hail Mary audiobook panel in ballroom 6A.
I became an instant fan of Andy Weir’s book when I read and virtually devoured it 4 years ago, and I’m looking (very) forward to next year’s movie adaptation; perhaps more than the law allows. 😊
In the meantime, I’ve listened to Audible’s sensational audiobook version of the book several times already, and this panel really spoke to me as a fan. Perhaps even more so than the movie’s panel would have.
Moderated by Australian media personality Maude Garrett, the panel featured Andy Weir, audiobook narrator extraordinaire Ray Porter and Aditya Sood, who is producing the movie adaption (along with Weir). Sood also produced 2015’s picture-perfect Ridley Scott-directed adaptation of Weir’s "The Martian" (one of my “comfort movies”).
The panel detailed the creative processes behind Weir’s work (he enjoys the research a lot more than the actual writing) and how narrator-actor Porter does all of his audiobooks as cold readings (!). That fact blew me away, since I’ve listened to many of his audiobooks and they’re spot-on, each time.
Porter also narrates the sensational sci-fi "Bobiverse" audiobook series, which producer Sood casually (and slyly) mentioned has been picked up for adaptation as well (YAYYYYYY!).
A great panel it was; I even got to share a quick joke with Weir afterward, asking if he’d sign my audiobook. Without missing a beat, he wittily replied that he’d gladly add a piece of chain code to my digital copy.
And if you haven’t yet read it? "Project Hail Mary" is easily the best sci-fi book I’ve read this century, and the new movie, coming out in March of 2026, promises to kick serious ass. Based on trailers, it may well be the best first contact story we’ve seen since "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in 1977.
In the meantime, check out the Audibles audiobook; it’ll sate your sweet tooth for the movie.