Chris Pratt stars in Mercy, a near-future thriller in which his character, a detective, faces a trial for the murder of his wife, with only 90 minutes to prove his innocence. The film centers on his urgent battle to convince an advanced AI judge, voiced by Rebecca Ferguson, of his innocence before the verdict is decided. Mercy is scheduled for theatrical release on January 23, 2026.
The film reunites Pratt with director Timur Bekmambetov, who emphasizes that the story’s pressure cooker setting informed both the narrative and the production design. Bekmambetov treats the film’s technology as a meaningful tool to amplify the immediacy and authenticity of Pratt’s performance, despite its futuristic backdrop.
This project marks another collaboration between Pratt and Bekmambetov, who previously worked together on Wanted, a film Pratt cites as an early example of the director’s commitment to groundbreaking techniques and inventive camerawork.
A Role Demanding Utmost Focus and Intensity
Pratt describes his role in Mercy as much darker and more serious than what audiences might anticipate. The director challenged him to abandon his usual instincts and fully embrace the gravity of his character’s situation.
He did a great job of understanding the character, the darkness of this character, and the seriousness of this character,
Pratt said, highlighting Bekmambetov’s clear vision for the role.
The character’s predicament leaves no room for distractions or charm, with a relentless urgency driving the story. Pratt emphasized, “Like, there’s none of that.”
There’s no room for that in his character.
He framed the stakes succinctly:
He’s been accused of his wife’s murder,
has literally 90 minutes to prevent himself from dying.
Innovative Production Techniques Enhance the Performance
Bekmambetov explains that the movie was shot using a technique called the Volume, which surrounds actors with large, real-time digital environments projected on screens, eliminating the need for green screens or post-production inserts. This approach was critical for Mercy as Pratt’s character spends almost the entire runtime confined to a single space, with the tension conveyed primarily through facial expressions and subtle reactions.
It was the only way to make this movie,
Bekmambetov remarked.
When you have Chris in the chair for 90 minutes of the screen time, you need to help him with the images around, with something he can interact with.
He stressed that this immersive technology influences far more than just the backgrounds.
It’s not only about the backgrounds,
It’s about the lighting. It’s about his performance.
Bekmambetov contrasted this with older effects techniques, recalling how Pratt had previously endured acting opposite placeholders, often symbolized by tennis balls, for films like Guardians of the Galaxy.
The Director’s Legacy of Technical Innovation
Pratt connected the film’s tech-forward style to Bekmambetov’s long-standing reputation for pushing cinematic boundaries. Reflecting on their previous collaboration, the actor praised his director’s ahead-of-its-time vision.
He was shooting Phantom Camera 1600 frames a second,
Pratt noted,
But on film, that’s unheard of.
He also acknowledged Bekmambetov’s continual evolution in filmmaking, explaining his admiration for the director’s pioneering spirit.
continue to be on the cutting edge, doing film techniques that just simply have never happened before because he hadn’t invented them yet.
About the Cast and What Lies Ahead for Mercy
Mercy was directed by Timur Bekmambetov from a script authored by Marco van Belle. Alongside Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, the cast includes Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, and Kylie Rogers. The intense narrative, combined with immersive filmmaking technology, positions the movie as a distinctive addition to the thriller genre.
Pratt concluded the discussion with a light-hearted comment about the film’s pressure-filled premise and the possibility of a sequel.
It’d be good to talk to you again after we do Mercy two Electric Boogaloo,
he joked.
Mercy will open exclusively in theaters on January 23, 2026, inviting audiences into a suspenseful and innovative story where every second counts.
