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Meet James Ortiz, voice of Rocky the alien in Ryan Gosling-starrer Project Hail Mary

STORYIshani Sarkar
James Ortiz, who voices Rocky in Project Hail Mary, photographed at the New York premiere of the film. Photos: Getty Images via AFP; IMDB
James Ortiz, who voices Rocky in Project Hail Mary, photographed at the New York premiere of the film. Photos: Getty Images via AFP; IMDB
Fame and celebrity

The sci-fi epic based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name is already a blockbuster hit – but who’s the voice behind Rocky the alien?

Ryan Gosling’s highly anticipated science-fiction epic Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, is a blockbuster hit. According to box-office revenue tracker Box Office Mojo, the film, which had a budget of US$200 million, opened to US$80.5 million domestically and has since grossed an impressive US$330 million worldwide.
With Ryan Gosling in the lead, Project Hail Mary is based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir (also known for The Martian, adapted by Ridley Scott). Photo: Sony Pictures
With Ryan Gosling in the lead, Project Hail Mary is based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir (also known for The Martian, adapted by Ridley Scott). Photo: Sony Pictures

Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a science teacher tasked with saving the planet after he wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there. On his mission, he encounters an alien he names Rocky.

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A shot of Rocky from Project Hail Mary. Photo: IMDB
A shot of Rocky from Project Hail Mary. Photo: IMDB

The extraterrestrial being was voiced by actor James Ortiz, who also operated the puppet alongside several other puppeteers, whom he called the Rocketeers, per The Hollywood Reporter.

(From left) Director Phil Lord, Sandra Hüller, Ryan Gosling, director Christopher Miller, James Ortiz and Lionel Boyce attend the premiere of Project Hail Mary at Lincoln Center Plaza on March 18, in New York. Photo: AP
(From left) Director Phil Lord, Sandra Hüller, Ryan Gosling, director Christopher Miller, James Ortiz and Lionel Boyce attend the premiere of Project Hail Mary at Lincoln Center Plaza on March 18, in New York. Photo: AP

“Actor to actor, I didn’t want Ryan to ever feel like he was alone in this,” Ortiz recalled. He further described his character as a “brilliant engineer” with the soul of a “little brother”.

So, who is James Ortiz?

What’s James Ortiz’s background?

US actor James Ortiz attends the world premiere of Project Hail Mary in London, Britain, in March. Photo: EPA
US actor James Ortiz attends the world premiere of Project Hail Mary in London, Britain, in March. Photo: EPA
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