Drew Goddard shoots for the stars with ‘Project Hail Mary’
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In this episode of The Business, host Kim Masters interviews screenwriter Drew Goddard about his career-spanning journey from writing for cult TV hits like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lost to becoming a sought-after fixer in Hollywood, notably rescuing troubled films like World War Z and Cloverfield. Goddard reflects on his early days in Hollywood, his rapid rise through J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot, and the chaotic yet creative environment that shaped his approach to storytelling. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from the making of The Martian and Project Hail Mary, including the personal and professional challenges of adapting Andy Weir’s science-heavy novels, the FBI's response to the 2014 Sony hack, and his candid advice to Weir about avoiding sequels for the sake of franchise-building. The episode also touches on broader industry shifts, including the Writers Guild's surprising four-year contract deal and the fallout from the failed Disney-OpenAI Sora partnership, offering a nuanced look at both creative triumphs and systemic risks in modern entertainment. Key takeaways include: (1) Authentic passion for a story is essential for successful adaptation—Goddard only adapts books he deeply loves; (2) The creative process thrives under pressure when teams are united by purpose, not just deadlines; (3) Hollywood’s obsession with franchises can undermine originality, and sequels should only be pursued when genuinely inspired; (4) The 2014 Sony hack was a watershed moment that exposed systemic vulnerabilities in media companies; (5) Reshooting and reworking films mid-production, once stigmatized, are now recognized as vital tools for quality. Overall, the episode presents a hopeful, human-centered view of creativity in a turbulent industry.
Authentic passion for a story is essential for successful adaptation—Goddard only adapts books he deeply loves.
The creative process thrives under pressure when teams are united by purpose, not just deadlines.
Hollywood’s obsession with franchises can undermine originality, and sequels should only be pursued when genuinely inspired.
The 2014 Sony hack was a watershed moment that exposed systemic vulnerabilities in media companies.
Reshooting and reworking films mid-production, once stigmatized, are now recognized as vital tools for quality.
Drew Goddard’s Creative Journey Begins
Kim Masters introduces Drew Goddard, highlighting his career trajectory from writing for Buffy the Vampire Slayer to adapting Andy Weir’s bestsellers. The episode sets the stage for a deep dive into Goddard’s early days in Hollywood and his rise as a genre-defining writer.
The Rise of a Genre Innovator
Goddard recounts his early days in Los Angeles, cold-calling studios and landing a PA job, before breaking into TV with Buffy. He reflects on the creative energy of J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and how it shaped his fast-paced, hands-on approach to storytelling.
From Cloverfield to World War Z: The Fixer’s Role
Goddard discusses how he was thrust into directing Cloverfield after a last-minute pitch, and later brought in to rescue World War Z by rewriting its entire third act. He reflects on the chaos of troubled productions and the value of creative intervention.
The Sony Hack and the Lost Spider-Man Movie
Goddard shares a personal story from the 2014 Sony hack, when FBI agents set up shop outside his office. He reveals how the attack derailed his Spider-Man movie and underscores the vulnerability of even the largest studios.
Adapting The Martian and Project Hail Mary
“When I read the book, it calmed me. In some ways, some of the ways that you're talking about, I think when we're talking about seeing science be celebrated, seeing the sort of like humanism of the book, there's no real antagonist in Project Hail Mary. The antagonist is circumstance.”
“Writing doesn't work that way. Writing, you have to be inspired. You have to do it because you're inspired. So if you have an idea that you're excited about, I'm going to get excited about it. But if you don't, we don't need to do this.”
“When I read the book, it calmed me. In some ways, some of the ways that you're talking about, I think when we're talking about seeing science be celebrated, seeing the sort of like humanism of the book, there's no real antagonist in Project Hail Mary. The antagonist is circumstance.”
“I used to have to call him and he was like, I can't take work calls at my desk. Hang on, I'm going to go to the conference room. And then at a certain point, like once Matt Damon signed up, I was like, Andy, you don't have to take calls in the conference room. Matt Damon said, yes, you can quit. And this is why Andy's so sweet. He's like, oh, I like my job.”
Host
Guest
Drew Goddard
person
Andy Weir
person
Project Hail Mary
book
The Martian
book
J.J. Abrams
person
Matt Damon
person
Sony Pictures
organization
World War Z
media
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
other
Cloverfield
media
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