Rebecca Ferguson’s AI Judge Will Make Chris Pratt Beg for ‘Mercy’ in First Trailer for Crazy Sci-Fi Thriller

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The official trailer for the new sci-fi thriller, *Mercy*, starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, is now available online. The movie appears to be a fresh take on the premise of *Minority Report*. Earlier this year, Pratt previewed the film at CinemaCon, even appearing strapped to a chair mirroring a scene from the movie. After a sneak peek was shown to attendees, the full trailer and a release date of January 23, 2026, have been revealed. *Mercy* boasts a compelling and original story, making it a promising film to look forward to next year.

In the upcoming film, Chris Pratt stars as Detective Chris Raven, who finds himself on trial before Judge Maddox, an artificial intelligence played by Rebecca Ferguson. Raven is accused of his wife’s murder and has just 90 minutes to convince the AI of his innocence, or face execution. Essentially, the AI acts as the judge, jury, and executioner. Using available technology, Raven must solve the mystery of his wife’s death and grapple with the ethical implications of the very justice system he helped create, all while racing against time.

Even though Raven appears limited and monitored in the trailer, Mercy cleverly uses things like camera footage and old clips of Pratt’s character to keep the story engaging. Plus, Ferguson seems to be bringing the same unsettling energy from *Dune: Part Two* to her role as Maddox, as the AI starts to show glitches and uncertainty towards the trailer’s end.

‘Mercy’ is a Movie With Increasingly Relevant Themes

According to Deadline, director Timur Bekmambetov explained at New York Comic Con that the movie unfolds in real time to reflect our current world, where artificial intelligence is rapidly developing and we don’t have time to fully grasp its implications. He sees AI as potentially a foe, a friend, or something in between, and the fast pace of the film mirrors this sense of urgency. Chris Pratt added that the long, 60-minute takes used during filming created a feeling of natural confinement for him, which he believes added to the movie’s authenticity.

Charles Roven, the producer of the Academy Award-winning film *Oppenheimer*, will also be at the NYCC panel. He’ll be talking about how the movie’s story and themes have become even more meaningful over time.

A writer named Marco van Belle sent us a script. When we first received it, AI was just a topic of conversation, not a reality. But as we began developing the movie, AI rapidly became a practical concern for many companies, and the future it portrays felt increasingly close. Because the film is set in 2029, it’s become more and more relevant with each passing day, week, and month, as real-world events continue to align with the story.

Mercy is shaping up to be a major release in 2026, offering a compelling mix of exciting action and thought-provoking ideas.

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2025-10-10 01:17