It didn't take me long after my first viewing of Project Hail Mary to realize I was not going to be able to get enough of Rocky, which is part of the reason why I returned to the theater to rewatch the film more than once after the 2026 movie's release. James Ortiz's delightful character is the gift who keeps on giving, and not just in the actual movie. For the film's theatrical release, we saw funny and adorable video promos featuring the Eridian character. Now that the movie is streaming, Rocky is back for a new video, and this one has me begging Amazon MGM Studios for more.
Timed for the Prime Video streaming arrival of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's book-to-screen adaptation of Andy Weir's sci-fi novel, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios released a 2+ minute video, which shows Rocky watching a clip from Project Hail Mary. Check it out below:
Listen, some people might not appreciate watching Rocky state a lot of the obvious non-stop as he watches himself and his friend Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) on screen, but I'm here for it. I love how perplexed he gets at the part when Grace gets scared by his first sight of Rocky, and I love the gestures Rocky does (including his solo fist-bump and excited feet-taps) while talking. Rocky's body language is one of his best features, so having him visible on screen for the reaction clip is a big part of why it works. I could honestly sit for at least an hour of Rocky watching this movie and sharing what's going through his mind, if not the entire movie.
"Words Of Encouragement."
Is it too much to hope that this could be a snippet of a bonus feature for the home video release? Probably, considering it isn't mentioned on Amazon's listing for the Project Hail Mary Blu-ray, and Rocky specifically shouts out YouTube in the video.
The home video release happens in August, with the limited edition Steelbook hitting shelves (at Amazon, exclusively) in October. Tragically, neither mentions any kind of commentary featuring Rocky. The closest thing we might get to that would be the "Earth's Favorite Eridian" feature, which I'm assuming is some kind of featurette focused on Rocky. Will it merely be about Rocky, or will it feature the actual Eridian in character? Either way, that feature sounds like a win, but hear me out...
Amazon, Please Friend, Give Us A Rocky Commentary (With Ryan Gosling, Because I'm Greedy)
This is an Amazon MGM Studios movie, so this request does feel doable, assuming James Ortiz and Ryan Gosling were game for it, and Amazon wanted to make it happen. I would absolutely love the option to watch Rocky and Grace (or Ryan Gosling as himself) comment on the movie throughout its full run. Even if we can't get it as a feature on the Blu-ray, it'd be great if Amazon offered it as a feature on the digital/streaming version of the film. Make it a Prime Video exclusive!
If a full commentary isn't an option, please at least give us more videos of Rocky watching clips from the movie! I'd especially like to hear his thoughts about Stratt -- maybe he can watch the scene where she's watching him on video (the one where we see her new tattoo). There's also an opportunity for some particularly meta humor for James Ortiz if Rocky were to watch a certain cameo from earlier in the movie.
If this clip is all we'll get of Rocky watching Project Hail Mary, so be it. It's adorable, and I'm excited to hear all about the making of the movie when the commentary featuring Phil Lord and Christopher Miller becomes available on the home video release. But I don't think I'm alone in saying that more Rocky in any way would be amaze amaze amaze. In the meantime, you can stream Project Hail Mary with a Prime Video subscription.
