Chris Pratt Rejects Own AI "Actor" Pitch for Mercy

While promoting his sci-fi thriller Mercy in January 2026, Chris Pratt revealed a surprising "what if" moment from the film's early development. During a roundtable interview with Entertainment Weekly and an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Pratt admitted he briefly floated the idea of using an entirely AI-generated "actor" to play the film's antagonist, Judge Maddox.

The pitch, however, was quickly shut down—not just by the production team, but eventually by Pratt himself.

The Pitch: Why an AI Villain?

In the film, Pratt plays Detective Chris Raven, a man who must prove his innocence to a cold, automated AI judge within 90 minutes. Given the movie's heavy themes of digital surveillance and artificial intelligence, Pratt wondered if the casting should reflect the technology.

Pratt’s early suggestions included:

• A Fully Synthetic Actor: Creating a "Tilly Norwood"-style AI entity to play the judge to lean into the film's meta-commentary.

• The "Oprah" Option: A more humorous pitch where the defendant could "choose" the face of their judge, with Pratt suggesting, "What if I could pick Oprah?"

• The Logic: Pratt thought having a digital construct might heighten the "Screenlife" aesthetic pioneered by the film's director, Timur Bekmambetov.

"I Don't Think That's a Good Idea at All"

The reaction from the creative team and the cast was one of immediate resistance. Pratt recalled that everyone in the room essentially said, "No, I don't think so," leading him to realize his "gut reaction" was the same.

Pratt ultimately called his own pitch "dumb," noting that a digital creation could never replicate the emotional nuances of a human performer. He expressed relief that they moved away from the concept, stating that while he uses and "loves" AI in his personal life, the idea of replacing actors "freaks him out" as a parent and a professional.

Casting a Human "AI": Rebecca Ferguson

The production eventually found their perfect "AI" in Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible, Dune).

Pratt praised the casting choice, noting that Ferguson’s "striking, symmetrical face" allowed her to look almost artificial while still providing a chilling, human performance. Ferguson explained her approach was to stay as "automated as possible" to show the "cracks in the foundation" of a system that is supposed to be impartial but is ultimately a flawed mimicry of human behavior.

Mercy (2026) Fast Facts

• Release Date: January 23, 2026.

• Director: Timur Bekmambetov.

• Format: Filmed for IMAX and released in 3D, using the "Screenlife" format where the action takes place across various digital screens.

• The Plot: Detective Chris Raven has 90 minutes of real-time to prove he didn't murder his wife before an AI judge (Judge Maddox) executes him.

• Reception: While the film received a mixed critical reception (with some calling it "tedious"), the performances of Pratt and Ferguson were noted for their intensity.

Source - https://variety.com/2026/film/news/chris-pratt-ai-actor-villain-mercy-amazon-mgm-1236640460/

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