Project Hail Mary postponed in India due to Dhurandhar 2’s strong run, director says “How dare you have your own successful film industry?”

Project Hail Mary makers speak on film release delay in India

• Project Hail Mary delayed in India due to Dhurandhar 2's success
• Film now set to release in India on March 26
• Indian cinema's global influence is reshaping release strategies

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Project Hail Mary is doing strong business worldwide, but its release journey has come with a noticeable delay in India.

Starring Ryan Gosling, the film has already collected around $140 million globally in its opening weekend, yet audiences in India are still waiting to watch it on the big screen.

The reason for the postponement is an unusual one—it reportedly would have clashed with the massive run of Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar.

With the Indian film continuing its record-breaking box office streak, international studios have started reshuffling their release calendars.

Even Toxic is said to have adjusted its release to avoid competing directly.

Ahead of its India release, directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller spoke to Hindustan Times about how things are changing globally, especially when it comes to Indian cinema’s growing influence.

Phil Lord summed up the shift with humour, saying, “How dare you have your own successful film industry?”

The directors also spoke about how Indian films are no longer just regional successes but are increasingly finding space in global pop culture. Dhurandhar 2, for instance, has reportedly crossed Rs 750 crore worldwide and even performed strongly in the US, something that would have been rare a decade ago.

Christopher Miller pointed out how this shift has been building for years. He said, “And it’s growing every year. Indian films in America have begun to gain broad cultural relevance, starting with RRR.”

He added, “That really spread out beyond just those seeking it out,” referring to how RRR broke out of niche audiences and became a wider cultural moment after its US release and later Oscar win for Best Original Song.

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Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel, follows a man who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there, only to realise he is humanity’s last hope.

Alongside Ryan Gosling, the film also features Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz and Lionel Boyce.

The film which was supposed to release on 20th March worldwide is now set to release in India on March 26—seven days after Dhurandhar 2.