Get Ready: Chris Pratt's Mercy Trailer Drops, Showing a Terrifying AI Future

Folks, brace yourselves! Amazon MGM Studios just dropped the trailer for Mercy, an upcoming sci-fi thriller that looks like it will have us all on the edge of our seats. Headlining the film is none other than Chris Pratt, taking on a role that promises something completely different from his usual galaxy-saving heroics. This time, he's an LAPD detective fighting for his life against an AI judge he once championed. The first look at this intense flick was revealed at New York Comic Con, giving us plenty to talk about.

Set in the near future, specifically 2029, Mercy presents a chilling vision of criminal justice. Pratt's character, Detective Raven, finds himself in an unimaginable situation. He's accused of murdering his wife and has a mere 90 minutes to prove his innocence to an advanced AI system. This isn't just any AI system; it's Judge Maddox, played by Rebecca Ferguson, an entity Raven himself helped bring into existence. Talk about a twisted turn of events!

Unpacking the Gripping Premise of Mercy and Its AI-Driven World

The core idea behind Mercy is a heavy one, folks. Imagine a world where artificial intelligence doesn't just assist with justice, it is the justice system, serving as judge, jury, and executioner. Detective Raven, a man who once believed so strongly in this "Mercy Capital Court" program, is now its target. He wakes up strapped to an execution chair, facing a system he helped build, a system that now wants to execute him for a crime he claims he didn't commit.

The trailer shows us the intensity of this setup. Pratt's Raven is up against AI Judge Maddox, and he has no idea how he ended up in this predicament. His only hope comes from his partner, played by Kali Reis, who helps him retrace his steps. The clock is ticking down, 90 minutes to convince an impartial, powerful AI of his innocence. This near-future Los Angeles, where capital crimes are met with swift AI-driven judgments, feels eerily close to our present reality, making the stakes feel incredibly high.

Producer Charles Roven, an Oscar winner for Oppenheimer, shared during the NYCC panel that the film's premise has only become more relevant since its early stages. "Back when we first got the pitch, people were talking about AI, but it wasn't really happening yet," Roven explained. "Then by the time we got the script and we started talking about the movie, now all of a sudden, companies were really dealing with AI, and the future was definitely not so far away." This makes Mercy more than just a sci-fi thriller; it's a commentary on our rapidly approaching future.

Chris Pratt's Intense New Role and Dramatic Shift in Mercy

If you're used to Chris Pratt cracking jokes while battling intergalactic threats or wrangling dinosaurs, get ready for a significant change. In Mercy, Pratt takes on a role that pushes his dramatic abilities to the forefront. He plays a homicide detective who has seen a lot, been through a lot, and is now deeply involved in the "Mercy program" he helped design to make the justice system more efficient against rising crime.

Director-producer Timur Bekmambetov highlighted this shift, stating, "There is something new for Chris in this movie. It's his next iteration. He plays a dark and very vulnerable character in a very dramatic story." Pratt himself noted the "departure" from his usual roles, embracing a character who might have committed the crime he's accused of. This ambiguity adds another layer of tension to his performance.

The physical demands of the role were also unique. Pratt shared that much of the movie involves his character literally strapped into a chair. He was "literally strapped in during the shoot," which he said created "a natural claustrophobia" that helped him embody the role. Imagine being physically restrained for long takes, acting opposite a projection of Rebecca Ferguson's AI judge, while your entire digital life is used as evidence against you. That's a level of commitment and discomfort that promises an incredibly raw performance from Pratt.

Behind the Screens: Mercy's Unique Filmmaking Techniques and Visual Style

Timur Bekmambetov, known for his work on films like Wanted and the screen-life thrillers Unfriended and Searching, brings his distinct visual style to Mercy. The film was shot in downtown Los Angeles and promises a truly immersive experience, especially for those who see it in IMAX.

One of the most talked-about aspects of the production is its "real-time" approach to storytelling. Bekmambetov explained that the film needed to tell its story within the 90-minute ticking clock of the courtroom drama. Pratt mentioned that they shot the entire movie "almost as a stage play," with takes sometimes lasting "50, 60, and 70 minutes long." This was an incredible challenge for the cast and crew, different from anything Pratt had done before.

The film's visual presentation of evidence is also a major plot device. Pratt's character is bombarded with "sometimes up to 1,000 screens" displaying his digital life over the past ten years. This includes everything from yelling at his wife on his daughter's secret Instagram page to FaceTime calls stored in the cloud, all used against him. His interactions with Kali Reis's character, his partner, were also unique. Reis was filmed on a separate set, and her image was "projected" for Pratt to see, creating a "very high production value Zoom session of two people on two different sets."

Bekmambetov's innovative methods extended to the action sequences. For a truck-chase scene, shot over six days in downtown Los Angeles, they employed a mix of virtual production and practical effects. Producer Charles Roven detailed an impressive scene where a "truck hits a cop car and the cop car goes careening into a building where people are having dinner." This was "shot for real on the volume stage, with the truck, with the cop car going into the building," requiring careful crew placement due to the realism. They even used "robo-dogs" to film crowd scenes, a method Bekmambetov believes is a first in filmmaking history. The director noted he simply told the robo-dogs what he wanted, and they executed the shots.

The final experience, especially in IMAX, aims to be truly gripping. Roven promised that the screens displaying evidence "will not just come at you in a 2D way. They'll almost look like they're coming at you out of the motion picture screen into the audience." Bekmambetov further described the IMAX experience as similar to augmented reality, where "the screens are surrounding you."

The Ensemble Cast Bringing This Future to Life with Depth

Beyond Chris Pratt's lead performance, Mercy boasts a strong cast ready to bring this compelling narrative to the big screen. Rebecca Ferguson takes on the complex role of AI Judge Maddox, an artificial intelligence with immense power over human lives. Bekmambetov teased that audiences will "discover her heart," hinting at a character that goes beyond a simple, cold machine. Ferguson's portrayal of this crucial AI entity will likely be a highlight of the film, especially given her compelling presence even through a video message at NYCC.

Kali Reis plays Raven's partner, a character described as "very loyal." Reis shared that her character also has "some things about her that you have to discover," indicating a nuanced performance. She also spoke about the script giving her a strong baseline to build her character's backstory, particularly her strong belief in the Mercy court system. Her role as Raven's aid in this dire situation will be critical.

The film's cast also includes Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, and Kylie Rogers, along with Rafi Gavron, Kenneth Choi, and Jeff Pierre. Bekmambetov chose this diverse group of "very different performers" to create a rich tapestry of characters within the film's near-future setting. This combination of established stars and fresh faces suggests a dynamic and engaging ensemble ready to explore the film's weighty themes.

Why Mercy is a Timely Reflection on Our AI-Driven World

The conversations surrounding artificial intelligence are growing louder every day, making Mercy incredibly timely. Director Timur Bekmambetov pointed out the current relevance of AI, stating, "We live in a world today where AI is knocking on the door and we don't have time to understand what happened. AI could be our enemy, our friend or our child. This ticking clock is metaphorical of the time we live in now." This statement captures the uncertainty and rapid changes society faces with AI.

Charles Roven echoed this sentiment, noting how quickly the future depicted in the movie is becoming a reality. He highlighted that the film's 2029 setting feels increasingly plausible with each passing day. Roven posed a fundamental question for the audience to ponder after watching the film: is an AI judge, capable of instantaneously analyzing vast amounts of evidence, a "good" or "bad" thing? He stressed the film will make audiences question whether we "should try it, because of what it would do to time and space."

The movie also delves into the complex relationship between our digital and physical lives. Bekmambetov observed, "We live half of our time in the physical world right now. Half of my time I am spending in a digital world. It means half of the most important events of my life are happening, not in the physical world." This perspective underpins the film's premise, where a detective's digital footprint becomes the primary evidence in his murder trial. The film forces us to confront the implications of our online existence and how it might be used against us in a future where AI holds ultimate authority.

Anticipating the Theatrical Release: Get Ready for Mercy

The excitement for Mercy is certainly building, and fans won't have to wait too long to see this intense sci-fi thriller. Amazon MGM Studios will release Mercy in theaters on January 23, 2026. It's also confirmed for IMAX, ensuring a truly cinematic and immersive viewing experience as intended by the filmmakers.

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has rated Mercy PG-13, citing "violence, bloody images, some strong language, drug content, and teen smoking." This rating suggests an intense, mature experience for audiences. The film is a production of Atlas Entertainment and Bazelevs, presented by Amazon MGM Studios.

Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, "From the moment Chuck Roven brought us Mercy and we read Marco van Belle's script, we knew the film was meant for the big screen." Bekmambetov himself is thrilled to reunite with Chris Pratt, noting that since their collaboration on Wanted, Pratt has become "one of the highest-grossing actors of our time." He praised Amazon as "the ideal partner for telling this crucial story about the future challenged by artificial intelligence."

So, mark your calendars for January 23, 2026. Mercy promises to be a thought-provoking and action-packed ride, pushing Chris Pratt into new dramatic territory and forcing us all to consider the implications of AI on our justice system and our lives. It's a film that looks ready to spark many conversations long after the credits roll.