One of Dorset’s most iconic locations, Durdle Door on the Purbeck coastline, is being discovered by a new global audience of millions, after featuring in the closing scenes of Hollywood’s big Easter movie, Project Hail Mary.
Oscar nominated actor Ryan Gosling stars in the science fiction film which made £120 million in its first weekend after it opened in UK cinemas on Friday 20th March 2026.
Film crews from Amazon MGM took over Durdle Door for several days in October 2024
Ryan Gosling shot several scenes on the beach over three days
Nominated three times for Oscars
The story of a science teacher who is sent into space against his will as the last hope Earth has of stopping the sun from being destroyed, Project Hail Mary has become the biggest and most successful film of 2026 to date.
Among its most moving images, reportedly moving audiences to tears, is one of Ryan Gosling’s character Ryland Grace on the beach at Durdle Door after making huge personal sacrifices in his attempt to save both Earth and his friend.
Ryan Gosling, who has been nominated three times for Oscars for the films La La Land, Barbie and Half Nelson, spent several days in Purbeck when scenes for Project Hail Mary were filmed in October 2024.
The Lulworth Estate closed Durdle Door Beach, Man O’ War Beach and Durdle Door car park to the public on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Tuesday 15th October 2024, but access to the coast path was still available from West Lulworth.
Locals taking a walk in the area were amazed to see a large film crew from Amazon MGM above Durdle Door beach, and Ryan Gosling himself walking along the beach.
Ryan Gosling, star of La La Land and Barbie, stayed in Purbeck while filming at Durdle Door
Some shots taken from the sea have been included in the movie
“He was wearing white chinos”
Digital content creator Scarlet Martin of Ringwood had been staying at The Priory Hotel in Wareham and decided to go for a walk along the Jurassic Coast.
Scarlet Martin said:
“The car park at Durdle Door was closed, but I was told that I could park at Lulworth and walk from there. When I reached Durdle Door, I could see filming going on, and there was Ryan Gosling acting out a scene.
“I could clearly see that it was Ryan Gosling, he was wearing white chinos and a chunky knit cardigan by the looks of it.
“It was quite funny because I was walking back down the big hill afterwards, and there were people huffing and puffing on their way up.
“I said to them, if it makes it any better, Ryan Gosling is on the other side.”
Digital content creator Scarlet Martin was astonished to see Ryan Gosling on Durdle Door beach while out walking
Durdle Door has become Britain’s most Instagrammable beach
Seen by more than five million
Project Hail Mary is based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, where Ryland Grace, a schoolteacher turned astronaut, wakes up with amnesia, alone on a spaceship, and slowly realises that he’s on a mission to save humanity from extinction.
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative team behind the Spider-Verse films and The Lego Movie, the film blends emotional storytelling, survival science, and epic space adventure, including an unexpected bond between Gosling’s character and a five-armed alien lifeform nicknamed Rocky.
Like all his species, Rocky is blind and communicates by using musical tones and chords similar to whale song – and as his planet is facing the same extinction event as Earth, the two have to work together to save their worlds.
The film is already being talked about as an early favourite for the 2027 Academy Awards, and in its opening weekend alone has been seen by more than five million people in cinemas.
Ryan Gosling stars as a science teacher who is unwillingly sent on a Hail Mary mission into space
A sentient rock alien nicknamed Rocky becomes the breakout star of the film
Boost to Easter visitor numbers
With such a huge cameo for an instantly recognisable Purbeck landmark, visitor numbers to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door are expected to increase.
Durdle Door is part of the private 12,000 acre Lulworth estate which is owned by the Weld family.
It has previously been used as a location for several major films, including Nanny McPhee and Far From The Madding Crowd, and for music videos Saviour’s Day by Cliff Richard, Shout by Tears For Fears and Loverboy by Billy Ocean.
It is also a favourite destination for Bollywood fans after several scenes from the 2016 film Housefull 3 were filmed on the beach, including the hit song Pyar Ki Ma Ki.
But it shot to the top of the charts for the most Instagrammable beach in the UK after it was featured in 2022 as the Doctor Who location where Jodie Whittaker regenerates into David Tennant, followed by days of filming in June 2023 for the Netflix fantasy series The Sandman, starring Tom Sturridge.
Although a scenic beauty spot, Durdle Door sits at the bottom of steep cliffs and visitors should wear suitable footwear to walk down and back up the narrow steps, which are currently under repair.
Jodie Whittaker regenerates on Durdle Door in the BBC scifi show Doctor Who
The Sandman star Tom Sturridge was also spotted filming on the beach at Durdle Door
Further information
- Plan your visit to Durdle Door on the Lulworth Estate website
