Chris Pratt confronts AI judge in Mercy, a thriller that questions digital privacy and accountability

Chris Pratt Takes on His Darkest Role Yet

Chris Pratt is stepping away from his signature wisecracking action-hero roles to tackle something far more unsettling in Mercy, a science fiction thriller that imagines a near future where artificial intelligence has seized control of the justice system 1

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. The actor plays Chris Raven, a homicide detective who wakes up shackled to an executioner's chair, accused of murder and facing immediate execution unless he can prove his innocence within 90 minutes 2

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. "I've never played a character like this before, in a genre like this," Pratt revealed, acknowledging the dramatic departure from his familiar blockbuster territory 2

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An AI-Powered Justice System Where You're Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Set in a violence-ridden Los Angeles in 2029, Mercy presents a chilling vision of a surveillance-driven society where the AI-powered justice system has flipped the presumption of innocence on its head 1

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. When a murder suspect has a 97.5% probability of guilt, they're thrust into the Mercy Court to face Judge Maddox, an artificial intelligence entity portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson 3

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. The statistics are brutal: 92% of trials conclude in immediate execution 4

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. As Pratt explained the premise with chilling simplicity: "Commit a crime today, you'll be dead tomorrow" 4

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Digital Footprints Become Evidence in Real-Time Trial

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov in his signature screenlife style, much of the film's action unfolds across digital displays as Maddox and Raven scour through social media accounts, surveillance feeds, police body cameras, doorbell recorders, and databases 1

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. Maddox has access to the city's cloud, to which all citizens are legally obligated to connect their devices, creating a comprehensive digital archive of every action 1

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. This immersive experience forces audiences to confront their own digital privacy and accountability. "They're going to probably be thinking, 'I've etched each of my actions in digital stone over the past 12-15 years,'" Pratt noted 1

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When Fiction Feels Too Close to Reality

What makes Mercy particularly unsettling is how rapidly its premise is shifting from science fiction to potential reality. Director Bekmambetov warned that an AI judge "could happen tomorrow," noting that "what we think will be in 10 years, it's happening today and it's scary" 3

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. Pratt himself acknowledged that a decade ago, the concept would have seemed "outlandish," but now artificial intelligence has become so integrated into daily life that the film's vision feels uncomfortably plausible 3

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. The actor has begun implementing AI safeguards in his own life, particularly concerning his children and family, while recognizing both the benefits and dangers of manipulative algorithms 3

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Physical and Emotional Intensity Behind the Scenes

To authentically portray the claustrophobic terror of being confined to an executioner's chair, Pratt requested to be actually strapped in during takes. "I found it helpful because I truly felt I could fight against it, and felt even more claustrophobic," he explained 1

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. The role demanded he play an alcoholic homicide detective suffering from memory loss, waking from a drinking binge with no recollection of the night his wife was murdered 2

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. Meanwhile, Rebecca Ferguson faced her own unique challenge: portraying Maddox as a motionless AI entity that mimics human emotions. Bekmambetov gave her a chart of emotions and instructed her to "smile at the oddest moment," forcing her to convey humanity through subtle shifts "behind the eyes" 1

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Why This Matters Now

Mercy arrives at a critical moment when conversations about artificial intelligence governance, automated decision-making, and digital surveillance have moved from theoretical to urgent. The film challenges viewers to consider what happens when efficiency trumps human judgment, when algorithms replace accountability, and when our entire digital history can be weaponized against us. As Pratt noted, audiences will find themselves "on the same journey" as his character, essentially "defending your own actions" as years of digital footprints flash before their eyes 1

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. The film began its global theatrical rollout on January 20, inviting audiences to experience this jarring vision of a future that may be closer than we think 1

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