In the sci-fi thriller Mercy, Rebecca Ferguson portrays an AI judge named Maddox, but the film’s star Chris Pratt initially wanted the role given to either Oprah Winfrey or an AI-generated actor. Mercy, released after wrapping production in May 2024, follows Pratt’s character, Detective Chris Raven, who faces trial for the murder of his wife, Nicole Raven (Annabelle Wallis), in a dystopian future where defendants must prove their innocence before an AI judge within 90 minutes or face execution. The choice of an AI judge is central to the film’s tense atmosphere.
The Plot and Setting of Mercy
As Detective Chris Raven, Pratt spends most of Mercy confined to a chair, communicating with Judge Maddox, who ultimately decides his fate. The futuristic court system emphasizes the use of AI to determine guilt or innocence quickly, reflecting a chilling vision of technology’s role in justice. The film creates a world that, while featuring some contemporary technologies like Instagram and doorbell cameras, remains largely separate from today’s reality, maintaining a distinct dystopian tone.
Pratt’s Initial Ideas Behind Casting the AI Judge
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Chris Pratt revealed that before Rebecca Ferguson was cast, he proposed the possibility of creating a fully AI-generated actor to portray Judge Maddox. He explored the humorous alternative of having Oprah Winfrey play the role, envisioning the character as a screen face that his character could ‘pick.’ However, he and the production team quickly dismissed these options as impractical and unsuitable for the film’s serious tone.
“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?’ And everyone was like, ‘No, I don’t think so.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t think that’s a good idea at all.’ 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. 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. It’s like when you watch the deleted scenes, and you’re like, ‘Yeah, there’s a good reason to delete that scene.'”
Pratt admitted that the comedic potential of Oprah playing the judge appealed to him, given his background in comedy with projects like Parks & Recreation and Guardians of the Galaxy. However, he ultimately recognized such an approach would not fit Mercy’s dramatic narrative.
Impact of AI Actors Debates on the Film Industry
Mercy’s concept touches upon ongoing controversies surrounding AI in entertainment, especially following the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which involved disputes over the use of AI for actors. The industry debate intensified with the incident involving Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actor produced by the company Particle 6, which sought studio interest in this new form of digital talent. This development brought ethical and professional concerns into sharper focus.
Reflecting this controversy, Chris Pratt expressed skepticism about the concept of AI actors during the New York premiere of Mercy. Addressing the Tilly Norwood case, he dismissed it firmly:
“I heard this Tilly Norwood thing, I think that’s all bull***. I’ve never seen her in a movie. I don’t know who this b**** is. It’s all fake until it’s something.”
Furthermore, Pratt discussed the inherent flaws in AI, emphasizing its human origins:
“AI is man-made, you know, so it cannot be God.”
“It’s inherently flawed, and it always will be, because it’s made by the brokenness of man.”
How Casting Oprah or AI Could Have Altered Mercy’s Tone
Had Oprah or a fully AI-generated entity been cast as Judge Maddox, it likely would have shifted Mercy’s seriousness toward a more comedic or satirical tone. Since the judge appears on screen throughout most of the film, using a well-known celebrity would have risked breaking the immersive dystopian atmosphere the filmmakers sought to create. Mercy’s setting is meticulously built to feel distant and distinct from the current world, and casting a real-world celebrity might have diluted that effect.
The Film’s Reception and Audience Reaction
Upon release, Mercy received mostly negative responses from critics, reflected in a low 20% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audience reception has been significantly more positive, with an 81% audience score indicating that many viewers found value in the film despite critical disappointment.
Key Cast Members and Their Roles
Chris Pratt leads as Detective Chris Raven, the man fighting for his life and freedom under the scrutiny of the AI judge. Rebecca Ferguson plays the pivotal role of Judge Maddox, bringing to life the digital arbiter of justice central to the film’s plot. Annabelle Wallis appears as Nicole Raven, whose death sets the events of the story in motion.
