Up for review today is LEGO 11389 Project Hail Mary. If you haven't heard of it, this is based off the Book Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - a fun SciFi book and now a movie. Hence, this set.

This is a LEGO Icons set - set number 11389, 830 pieces, and it lands at $99.99. It released March 1, 2026 and was designed by Nathan Heigert. If you've read the book, you already know the story follows astronaut Ryland Grace and an alien he nicknames Rocky, and this microscale model of the Hail Mary spaceship leans right into that.

Build

Th gist of this one is, you build each character on little pedastal, then you build the base, then you build the ship. When done there is a little knob you spin and the ship spins.

At 830 pieces, the build is pretty quick. I wouldn't say putting it together is hard, but getting the ship pieces oriented can be tricky.

One thing worth flagging up front: this is a very Technic-heavy build. There are six numbered bags, and only the last two actually go toward the Hail Mary ship itself - the rest is all the Technic framework for the stand and the spin mechanism. If you're not a fan of pins, beams, and axles, just know that's most of the experience here. On the plus side, there are zero stickers in the box. Everything is printed, which is still a nice treat for an Icons set at this size and price.

The real star is that spin function. There's a crank on the base, and when you turn it the crew quarters section detaches, rotates 90 degrees, and then the whole assembly spins - recreating how the ship generates artificial gravity with centrifugal force in the story. Turn the crank back and the crew quarters docks itself neatly into place. It's genuinely clever, and it's the kind of feature that makes you keep fiddling with the model long after you've finished building it.

The characters: Ryland and Rocky

You get one minifigure, Ryland Grace, decked out in his red EVA spacesuit, and he comes with a printed tape-measure tile - a nice nod for anyone who's read the book. The printing is sharp and he looks great.

Rocky, the Eridian, is brick-built rather than a minifigure, with a printed radar dish on top and dark tan limbs. He's one of the best parts of the book, and the set lets you set up the little Xenonite wall and airlock scene where he and Ryland first meet. It's a small touch, but a fun one if you know the story.

Overall

I think the set is fun. As a fan of the book, it is a must buy. For those of you not familiar with the book or movie, you may want to pass on this one. I do think the price is a little steep for the end prodcut, but that's standard for these themed sets.

The ship is a bit 'flimsy' and it's hard for children to play with - it's more of a decorative piece. The knob to spin the ship seems to come loose regularly.

Lighting

I do think this is a good candidate for lighting, given the space theme. So check out these lighting kits.

LocoLee Lighting Kit

BrickBling Lighting Kit

Brickshining Lighting Kit

Check out the LEGO Amazon page for this and other sets.

LEGO on Amazon

Images and Videos

Is the LEGO Project Hail Mary set worth it?

If you loved the book or you're excited for the movie, this is an easy recommendation - the spin mechanism alone is worth the price of admission and it displays really well on a shelf. If you've never heard of Project Hail Mary, $99.99 is a lot to ask for a sub-1,000 piece set, and the stand does take up more real estate than the ship itself. So your mileage will really depend on how much you love the source material. For fans, though, it's a must buy. Grab one on Amazon or check out the LEGO Amazon page for more sets.