Project Hail Mary, is "...the closest thing to a franchise-free, one-and-done global blockbuster that Hollywood has attempted since Tenet in 2020." A phrase I find implies it's still related to a franchise. Just saying. However, the boast is that there is no "green screen" in the $248million film. NOTE that doesn't mean the environments were practical. We've been doing rear projection on LED screens with automated camera tracking since The Mandalorian TV series, in Unreal Engine, and the use of green screen has dropped dramatically. With this process, you get actual environmental lighting effects, etc. and no worries on green spill or matting challenges. So... you know... it can be cheaper in the long run. Apparently not for this film through... Not saying they did that, though I would be surprised if not.
https://screenrant.com/project-hail-mary-budget-the-martian-comparison-andy-weir-movies/Filmmaking / Directing : Project Hail Mary - No Green Screen. by Shadow Dragu-Mihai
Project Hail Mary - No Green Screen.
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Great point—"no green screen" in 2026 almost certainly means LED volume tech, which creates real-time environments and lighting. That process saves on post-production but requires massive upfront investment—hence the $248M budget. The real gamble is whether a non-franchise sci-fi film can recoup over $500M in today's market. Do you think audiences will show up for the technology itself, or does the marketing need to sell something beyond the spectacle?