In a world where artificial intelligence increasingly permeates every aspect of society, the line between human judgment and machine precision blurs dangerously thin. Enter Mercy, the pulse-pounding sci-fi thriller starring Chris Pratt that plunges audiences into a dystopian courtroom where an AI holds the power of life and death. Set against the backdrop of a near-future America in 2029, the film promises a taut, 90-minute race against execution, blending courtroom drama with speculative tech horror. With its trailer dropping just days ago at New York Comic Con (NYCC) 2025, Mercy is already generating buzz as one of the most anticipated releases of next year.
MERCY follows an LAPD detective, played by Pratt, who awakens strapped to an execution chair, accused of murdering his wife. His only shot at survival? Convincing an advanced AI judge—whom he once advocated for—that he’s innocent, all within a brutal 90-minute window. As the AI dissects his life, memories, and motives with cold efficiency, the detective must unravel the truth amid revelations that could shatter everything he knows. The story explores themes of trust in technology, the flaws of automated justice, and the raw vulnerability of human emotion under algorithmic scrutiny.
This high-concept premise, reminiscent of Minority Report meets The Trial, was penned by screenwriter Marco van Belle, whose script caught the eye of producers for its timely critique of AI’s role in law enforcement. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov—known for stylish, effects-driven spectacles like Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter—the film is filmed for IMAX and presented in 3D, amplifying the claustrophobic tension of its single-location showdown.
At the helm is Chris Pratt, trading his action-hero charm for a more introspective, everyman desperation as Detective Chris Raven. Fresh off blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, Pratt brings gravitas to a role that demands both physical restraint and emotional depth—especially after he suffered an ankle injury just four days into filming. “It’s the next iteration for me,” Pratt shared at NYCC, hinting at how the film’s AI themes terrified and intrigued him.
Opposite Pratt is Rebecca Ferguson as Judge Maddox, the sophisticated AI presiding over the trial with an eerily human facade. Ferguson’s chilling portrayals in Dune and Mission: Impossible make her a perfect foil, embodying the film’s central conflict between empathy and efficiency. Annabelle Wallis rounds out the core trio as the detective’s wife, whose off-screen death drives the narrative’s emotional core.
The supporting cast adds layers of intrigue: Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country), Rafi Gavron (The Brutalist), Chris Sullivan (This Is Us), Kenneth Choi (Star Trek: Picard), Kylie Rogers (Home Before Dark), and Jeff Pierre (Swarm) fill out roles that promise twists in the detective’s past and the AI’s unyielding logic. While many details remain under wraps to preserve surprises, the ensemble’s talent suggests Mercy won’t skimp on character-driven suspense.
Announced in January 2024 as an Amazon MGM Studios project, Mercy moved quickly from page to production. Producers Charles Roven (Oppenheimer), Robert Amidon, Bekmambetov, and Majd Nassif assembled a lean team, with cinematographer Khalid Mohtaseb capturing the film’s stark, futuristic aesthetic. Principal photography kicked off on April 18, 2024, in Los Angeles, wrapping just over a month later on May 23—despite Pratt’s early setback, which he powered through with characteristic humor.
The film’s release was initially slated for August 15, 2025, but shifted to January 23, 2026, allowing for post-production polish on its cutting-edge VFX. Distributed by Amazon MGM in the US and Canada, and Sony Pictures internationally, Mercy is positioned as a wide theatrical event, capitalizing on IMAX screens to immerse viewers in the detective’s peril.
In an era where AI tools are reshaping justice systems worldwide, Mercy arrives as a provocative what-if, forcing viewers to question: Can machines truly deliver mercy? Pratt’s commitment to grounded sci-fi, paired with Bekmambetov’s flair for the fantastical, positions this as more than escapist fare—it’s a conversation starter. Mark your calendars for January 23, 2026, when Mercy hits theaters. In a verdict delivered by code, will humanity’s flaws be our undoing? The AI is watching.
