The Bobiverse is the Perfect ‘Hard’ Sci-Fi Project Hail Mary Replacement

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The movie based on Andy Weir’s popular science fiction novel, Project Hail Mary, is a huge hit with both critics and audiences. Starring Ryan Gosling, it topped the box office charts and has earned praise from scientists for how realistically it portrays space travel. With a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a ‘Certified Fresh’ designation, it’s become the biggest opening weekend for Amazon MGM Studios so far.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the team behind hits like The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street, and the Spider-Verse films, are continuing their success with a new project. While Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse has been postponed until 2027 to ensure it meets high standards, Lord Miller Productions is now adapting Dennis E. Taylor’s science fiction novel, We Are Legion (We Are Bob).

The Bobiverse is a Space Opera Series For Serious Sci-Fi Nerds

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) is the first book in Dennis E. Taylor’s Bobiverse series. It follows Bob Johansson, a software developer and science fiction enthusiast, who arranges to have his brain preserved after death. However, he unexpectedly needs the service sooner than anticipated. Bob wakes up a century later as a preserved brain with no legal rights, and is then transferred into a deep-space probe tasked with exploring the universe and finding resources for humanity. As the artificial intelligence controlling a self-replicating probe, Bob begins creating copies of his own consciousness, resulting in numerous “Bobs” being sent throughout the galaxy.

Like the classic Star Trek motto of seeking out new worlds, the story follows the Bobs – self-replicating probes – as they travel to distant star systems, meet alien creatures, and assist humanity’s expansion into space. As the number of Bobs grows, each one develops its own unique personality while facing dangers, difficult moral choices when aiding human settlements, and the everyday struggles of life in deep space. Bobiverse combines realistic science fiction with the excitement of space opera, raising questions about what it means to be an individual, the nature of freedom, and the possibilities of artificial intelligence.

Lord Miller Productions Holds Bobiverse First-Look Deal at Universal

Following the hit movie Project Hail Mary, a film adaptation of Dennis E. Taylor’s Bobiverse series is in the works. We Are Legion (We Are Bob) was optioned to Lord Miller Productions, with plans for distribution through Universal Pictures, as announced at a Project Hail Mary panel during San Diego Comic-Con in 2025. While Lord and Miller haven’t revealed whether the adaptation will be live-action or animated, a film or a TV series, fans are excited considering their previous successful and well-received movies.

Although Project Hail Mary tells a complete story about saving the sun, the Bobiverse series has more room to grow. With five books already out and two more planned, a movie or TV adaptation of Bobiverse could become a major science fiction franchise. Author Dennis E. Taylor intends to broaden the story with new books featuring characters beyond the original protagonist, Bob. Considering its potential for a vast, galaxy-spanning universe, a Bobiverse adaptation is a perfect next step for Lord Miller Productions.

Project Hail Mary Confirms Audiences Want Competent Sci-Fi Protagonist

Dennis E. Taylor’s science fiction series, much like Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary, falls into the “competence fantasy” genre. This means the main character, Bob Johansson, is highly skilled and capable in challenging situations. Bob, a physicist turned software engineer and CEO, is an intelligent problem-solver, similar to Dr. Rylan Grace. His wit and fondness for classic science fiction make him a great character to carry on the tradition of smart, resourceful protagonists seen in Weir’s popular novels.

The Bobiverse series is a fun mix of first contact science fiction with a relatable main character who’s basically living out his Star Trek dreams. Similar to Project Hail Mary, it successfully combines humor and smart sci-fi ideas – the same formula that’s made Andy Weir so popular. Author Dennis E. Taylor brings his background as a computer programmer into the stories, using real science to create believable depictions of interstellar travel, cryogenics, AI, space exploration, and mind uploading (like you see in movies such as The Matrix).

The Bobiverse is the Next Big Thing

Similar to Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary, We Are Legion (We Are Bob) is a science fiction story that focuses on getting the science right. Bobiverse isn’t just for those who enjoyed the realism of Project Hail Mary – it’s a fantastic continuation of that style. With its complex and detailed story, Bobiverse is a great series to discover now, before a potential movie or TV adaptation comes out.

The Bobiverse series has everything needed to become a major success in both film and science fiction. We Are Legion (We Are Bob) could be considered one of the best hard sci-fi movies of recent times, especially since it will be made by some of the same creative team behind Project Hail Mary. Given Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s track record – they created the popular Spider-Verse films – Bobiverse has a real chance to become a truly iconic franchise.

Given the huge success of Ryan Gosling’s recent sci-fi film, particularly how well it’s done compared to the movie The Martian, it wouldn’t make sense for Universal to delay making a Bobiverse movie. They should capitalize on the momentum from Lord Miller Productions’ successes, like the hints about Beyond the Spider-Verse. We Are Legion (We Are Bob), with its similar blend of science and humor, could launch a major film franchise for the studio. Universal could essentially take the formula that made Project Hail Mary work and expand it to a much larger, galactic scope.

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2026-06-15 18:10