Entering the world of *Project Hail Mary*, I anticipated Dr. Ryland Grace (played by Ryan Gosling) to embody various roles: a geeky middle school teacher, a sharp biologist, and an unwilling astronaut. However, the one thing I didn’t expect was his true identity as a fashion icon.
With his quirky graphic tees, a *Cats* shirt, and a striking fox sweater, Grace showcases his distinctive style, even in the farthest regions of space. In video interviews, Gosling, alongside directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and screenwriter Drew Goddard, discussed the influences behind Grace’s sartorial choices, starting with those science-themed t-shirts.
“Many of the humorous science tees are modeled after shirts my science-loving son wears daily,” said Miller. “He photographed his collection and sent it to the costume team.”
These shirts feature the “I wear this shirt periodically” design, depicting the periodic table, and a shirt identifying “Ah!” as “the element of surprise.”
“The science t-shirts remind me of scientists from my past, with their unique brand of humor that I find delightful,” commented Goddard.
A notable piece from the Ryland Grace collection is a knit sweater featuring two foxes on the front, reminiscent of a vintage sweater with a similar wolf pattern.
Gosling and stylist Mark Avery adapted that design with foxes. “The fox was a little Easter egg for my kids,” stated Gosling.
Besides being visually amusing, Grace’s tees serve a narrative purpose. After waking from a coma in space with amnesia, any reminder of his past identity, like his clothing, proves useful.
“He was trying to piece together his persona, but constantly faced surprises,” Gosling noted. “Like, I love *Cats*. That’s who I am. I’m the guy who loves *Cats* and ‘I had potential’ shirts.”
*Project Hail Mary* is currently showing in theaters.