Chris Pratt, known for his roles in the MCU and Jurassic World, initially considered a radical approach for his latest film, Mercy, by casting a real artificial intelligence opposite Rebecca Ferguson. The movie, set in the near future, features Pratt as a police officer accused of murdering his wife and facing an AI judge during his interrogation.
While Rebecca Ferguson portrays the AI in the film, Pratt revealed he once thought about using an actual AI for the role. In Mercy, Ferguson embodies a computer program that listens to Pratt’s character’s pleas and determines his guilt, a role that might seem fitting given her previous parts in science fiction, including a key role in Dune.
The Reason Behind Avoiding a Real AI Performance
Pratt shared in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that early discussions explored the possibility of having an AI act as the judge. He recalled,
“I remember talking about the various people who could play these characters, and early on, I was like, ‘Should we have it be an AI, where the judge is actually AI, and we create an AI?’”
However, he quickly acknowledged that the idea did not gain traction.
“And everyone was like, ‘No, I don’t think so,’”
Pratt recounted, laughing at the rejection and adding,
“I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t think that’s a good idea at all.’”
Although the concept did not progress, Pratt emphasized that the creative process involved many ideas before settling on the final choice.
“So it was actually never a possibility any more than anything is a possibility when you’re zeroing in on what the outcome is going to be and what the choices are that you’re going to make. It’s a collaborative effort,”
he explained.
An Unusual Alternative: Oprah as the AI Judge
Beyond the real AI idea, Pratt also floated a more humorous, if unconventional, suggestion involving Oprah Winfrey’s likeness as the AI judge’s face. He said,
“It’s dumb, it’s going to be dumb. It did not make sense, and I’m glad we didn’t do it, but one of my pitches early on was like, ‘What if [my character] could pick the judge, and I could pick Oprah, or I could pick anyone I want. Because ultimately it’s just a face on a [screen]. And I thought that would be funny to have Oprah do it.’”
While these ideas might sound far-fetched or even absurd, they highlight the unpredictable nature of selecting creative elements in film production. The final casting of Rebecca Ferguson in the AI role proved more fitting for the story’s serious tone.
Why This Casting Choice Matters
The decision to cast Ferguson as the AI character brings a human touch to the futuristic legal drama Mercy, grounding its tense narrative in a believable performance. Pratt’s hesitation about leaning fully into technology-driven casting reflects industry challenges in blending AI with traditional acting.
As artificial intelligence continues to advance, Mercy serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between innovation and storytelling. Pratt’s openness about these creative discussions reveals the complexities behind casting decisions, especially when exploring new technological frontiers in film.
