Chris Pratt is set to reunite with director Timur Bekmambetov nearly two decades after his breakout role in the 2008 action film Wanted. Their collaboration in the upcoming sci-fi thriller Mercy sees Pratt playing Chris Raven, an LAPD homicide detective in a precarious situation as he finds himself accused of killing his wife.
Set in a near-future Los Angeles, the film introduces audiences to the Mercy Program, an artificial intelligence system that administers justice. Raven, who once endorsed this AI-driven system, is now strapped to an execution chair, racing against the clock to prove his innocence in just 90 minutes. The unique format of Mercy unfolds in real time, heightening the tension as viewers witness the urgency of his situation.
Pratt described this role as a departure from his comedic character Andy Dwyer’s alter ego, FBI agent Burt Macklin, from Parks and Recreation. He noted, “I’ve never played a serious detective before. And so this was a departure for me, something different for me to try.” As Raven struggles against his alcohol addiction and the implications of his strained marriage, he must unravel the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death, revealing a complex character with potentially dark truths.
The Mercy Program allows for a comprehensive examination of evidence, pulling data from various digital sources, including surveillance cameras and social media, to formulate the case against him. Pratt explained the innovative approach to the evidence presented in court, stating, “All the evidence that’s being presented to us [in court] is there at any moment, sometimes up to a thousand screens in front of me of my life.”
Bekmambetov’s pioneering Screenlife style, previously showcased in films like Unfriended and Searching, is a defining element of Mercy. He highlighted how modern life increasingly blurs the lines between the physical and digital worlds, noting, “It means half of events, [the] most important events of my life happening, not in [the] physical world now, it’s happening [virtually].”
The visually rich presentation of the film, designed for IMAX and 3D theaters, enhances the immersive experience for viewers. Producer Charles Roven shared insights about the challenges of integrating multiple screens into the film’s narrative structure, promising that the 3D presentation will significantly enhance the audience’s experience, making it feel as if the digital evidence is surrounding them.
Mercy is set to open in IMAX and 3D theaters on January 23, presenting a thought-provoking narrative intertwined with thrilling technology. This timely exploration of AI and justice is sure to captivate audiences, inviting them to reflect on their own interactions with the increasingly digital world.