Project Hail Mary —a space opera starring and co-produced by Ryan Gosling—is shaping up to be one of the biggest films of the year, earning more than $550 million at the box office worldwide since it opened on March 20 and garnering rave reviews from critics and general audiences alike. In recent weeks, however, this seemingly innocuous movie has also become the subject of an unlikely controversy that raises questions about technoliberalism, author intent, and the politics of science fiction.