Andy Weir Breaks His Silence on His Next Sci-Fi Novel

If you've been searching for news on an Andy Weir new book, there's finally something concrete to report. In an interview published on Wednesday 28 October 2026, the author gave his most detailed update yet on what he's writing next, and set expectations for when fans might see it in shops.

Weir spoke to ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns as part of promotion for the Audible original Exoplanet, and used the conversation to clear up months of guesswork about his next project. He confirmed the book is another standalone novel, not a sequel to anything, and that he had just crossed over about 95,000 words in the writing, closing in on the conclusion (screenrant.com). According to coverage of the same interview from Primetimer, his draft has now reached roughly 95,000 words and he is nearing the end of the new story's third act.

For readers hoping the next book would pick up where Project Hail Mary left off, this is the clearest signal yet that it won't. FilmoFilia, reporting on the same remarks, noted that Weir's draft has gone past the 95,000-word mark and is deep into its third act, but the project is a standalone, not a sequel to Project Hail Mary.

The update also put an end to a separate piece of speculation. Readers had assumed the manuscript in progress was the artificial-intelligence-themed story Weir had mentioned in earlier interviews, but FilmoFilia reported that he has cleared up a persistent misconception, confirming this novel is not his previously discussed artificial-intelligence story. Primetimer added that fans expecting that AI book specifically will need to wait longer still, since it is a separate project still some years off.

As for a straight follow-up to Project Hail Mary, Weir was equally direct. Coverage of the interview noted he still has no firm plan for that book, with one outlet summarising his position as staying put off the table for the same reason it historically has, since Weir only returns to that world if he lands on an idea he is happy with (yahoo.com).

A completed first draft is not the same as a finished book, and Weir was careful to say so. Several outlets carried his description of what happens next: once the draft is done, he passes the finished manuscript to his editor, waits for feedback, and then sets to work on revisions (mandatory.com), a process he has previously joked leaves him second-guessing himself for a few days before he gets back to work.

Put together, the maths points to a 2027 release at the earliest. Primetimer reported Weir's own estimate directly, with the author saying the book still needs roughly another year of work before it is ready for shelves. That lines up with the editing cycle described elsewhere, where the same back-and-forth was said to put the release about a year away.

There's no title, no cover and no confirmed date yet, so Bleepia won't be guessing at any of them. What we can say is that Weir's catalogue so far includes titles such as The Martian and Project Hail Mary, among the books we track on his Andy Weir page.

If you want something sci-fi shaped to read in the meantime, The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky is due on 3 December 2026, and Adrian Tchaikovsky is another author we track on the Adrian Tchaikovsky page.

Once Weir's publisher confirms a title and date, we'll send the alert the same day. Follow your authors to add Andy Weir to your list, or create a free account now so Bleepia can email you the moment his next book has a release date.