Chris Pratt recently told Entertainment Weekly that he suggested an AI “actor” play the tyrannical AI judge in his new sci-fi thriller “Mercy.” However, the idea was quickly shut down by the production, and Rebecca Ferguson was cast in the role.
“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,’” Pratt said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t think that’s a good idea at all.’”
He added, “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.”
Pratt then recalled another off-the-wall pitch he had early in the planning stages of “Mercy.”
“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.”
Amazon MGM’s “Mercy” follows Pratt as Chris Raven, a cop from the near future who is on trial for the murder of his wife (Annabelle Wallis). Ferguson’s AI judge gives him 90 minutes to prove his innocence or face immediate execution.
The themes surrounding the oppressive nature of AI made the emerging tech a focal point during the “Mercy” press tour. At the film’s New York premiere, Pratt told Variety that he’s confident he’ll never be replaced by AI. He called the panic surrounding synthetic AI performers like Tilly Norwood “all bullshit.”
“I don’t feel like someone’s gonna replace me that’s AI,” Pratt said. “I heard this Tilly Norwood thing, I think that’s all bullshit. I’ve never seen her in a movie. I don’t know who this bitch is. It’s all fake until it’s something.”
Rebecca Ferguson has once again addressed that unnamed actor-cum-“absolute idiot” who previously made her life a living hell on set.
In a new interview with The Sunday Times, the actress who stars in the upcoming A House of Dynamite said she doesn’t care if the actor realizes she is talking about him … or her.
“Other people who have worked with this person also had a shitty time,” she told the Times. But Ferguson added that the situation was complicated and “I don’t applaud my own behavior in that.”
“It’s a really tricky world,” continued Ferguson. “We put a lot of blame on bullies and when we get older we can understand that people are insecure. When you start standing up for yourself, it’s really tricky. They’ll fire you and give the job to someone else.”
Ferguson said the person has not reached out to her.
In a 2024 interview with the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, the actress recalled how she found her voice in challenging her “absolute idiot” co-star. Ferguson recalled how the person would say things to her like, “You call yourself an actor?” and “This is what I have to work with?” in front of the crew.
“I stood there just breaking,” she remembered. “I remember there was a moment and this human being was being so insecure and angry because this person couldn’t get the scenes out.”
Ferguson said she resolved to challenge her co-star the next day, telling the individual to “get off my set.” She recalled being “so scared” of the confrontation.
“I looked at this person and I said, ‘You can F off. I’m gonna work towards a tennis ball. I never want to see you again.’ And then I remember the producers came up and said, ‘You can’t do this to number one. We have to let this person be on set.’”
Ferguson has confirmed that she was not talking about Hugh Jackman, Tom Cruise or Ryan Reynolds, who she starred alongside in The Greatest Showman, Mission Impossible and Life respectively.
A cop accused of murdering his wife must battle the highly advanced crime-solving tech of the future to prove his innocence. It could be Minority Report. Or it could be Mercy, which doesn’t quite look on the level of that Philip K. Dick-Steven Spielberg-Tom Cruise classic, but it does have some intriguing points, including Rebecca Ferguson as an AI-powered judge equipped to execute instantly in the event of a guilty verdict.
Chris Pratt is the star, though, so you’ve been warned; this will mostly be the Chris Pratt Show. According to NYCC’s panel description, Mercy is set in the near future, as “an LAPD detective (Pratt) wakes up strapped to an execution chair, on trial for murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson), an advanced AI system, or face immediate death.”
Check out the first trailer for Mercy, which also stars Kali Reis (True Detective), Annabelle Wallis (Peaky Blinders), and Chris Sullivan (This Is Us), among others.
Director Timur Bekmanbetov is known for his high-stakes thrillers; his previous works include Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, as well as Night Watch and Day Watch, early-career Russian releases before he ventured to Hollywood.
Can Pratt’s character beat the system, having helped bring the system to life? Will he realize the dangers of giving AI too much control? Will Mercy join movies like Minority Report and Demolition Man in the pantheon of entertaining “future cop” movies, or will it be as doomed as a convicted killer in near-future LA?
Perhaps of even greater concern is how much of a “screen-life” movie it appears to be. Will it be next year’s War of the Worlds, with Chris Pratt doing all of his acting from chair jail?
We’ll find out January 23, 2026, when Mercy hits theaters, including in IMAX and 3D.
I was so trained that you do not break your façade. You never raise your voice. If you need to, you walk out of the room, you sort your shit out, you come back, and you do your job. So whilst we were doing these scenes, there were moments when I, as Rebecca, felt I’m feeling something in my throat. I’m actually feeling sad, and if I lean into this, I’m going to burst, start crying any second. So I would turn and leave my station, and then Kathryn would come back and go, “Where did you go?” And I said, “I just walked into the room. I had a moment.” Two seconds later, before we did the take, there was a camera in there. She grabbed it and they followed me in, and I decided to do the phone call in there.
The other time it happened was sitting and looking at my [character’s son’s] dinosaur toy—that wasn’t in the script. I thought, It’s the tiny little human thing that I can bring in sneakily. I leaned away from the camera, but I didn’t realize that there was another camera that grabbed the moment—it wasn’t planned.
The film feels especially timely at the moment, in this country.
It’s important that this is not referring to any form of active presidency in the world, and it’s not just referring to America. There is no one single baddie in this film. The baddie is the system and the structure, and then you can analyze and have your own opinion. But this is a question about nuclear war and nuclear weapons.
How are you handling the time we’re in now, where there’s so much to be concerned about politically and internationally?
I don’t read the news, and I don’t say that lightly. I don’t have Instagram because I didn’t like the way it was feeding me news—it felt filtered. If I read the news, I want to choose my outlet, and I wish to choose from every angle so that I get every perspective. I find people like Kathryn, she deep dives into it and she goes to people who she believes in to give her news and information. I find it hard to give time to that, and I feel like it would break me. I know what’s happening in the world, but I’m not well-versed enough to stand on the barricades to have the arguments. I wish I could, because I’m a person with very strong moral values and opinions. I know exactly where I stand. But I feel like right now, everything that I would say would be an empty platitude in comparison to how I actually feel. I find the world a very sad and horrendous place right now.
The Venice Film Festival is always a glamorous affair, but this year’s prestigious competition just might be the most star-studded yet. The 11-day extravaganza, which kicks off on August 27 and runs through September 6, is filled with noteworthy film premieres, screenings and fêtes, all of which are attended by A-list filmmakers and celebrities.
Alexander Payne is the jury president for the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, and this year’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement which will be awarded to Werner Herzog and Kim Novak.
Glitzy movie premieres aside, let’s not forget about the sartorial moments at Venice, because attendees always bring their most fashionable A-game to walk the red carpet in front of the Lido’s Palazzo del Cinema. It’s a week-and-a-half of some of the best style moments of the year, and we’re keeping you updated with all the top ensembles on the Venice red carpet. Below, see the best fashion moments from the 2025 Venice International Film Festival.
Emily Blunt. Getty Images
Emily Blunt
in Tamara Ralph
Halsey. WireImage
Halsey
Dwayne Johnson. Getty Images
Dwayne Johnson
Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman. FilmMagic
Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman
Gerber in Givenchy
Amanda Seyfried. Getty Images
Amanda Seyfried
in Prada
Thomasin McKenzie. Corbis via Getty Images
Thomasin McKenzie
in Rodarte
Stacy Martin. Deadline via Getty Images
Stacy Martin
Alexa Chung. Corbis via Getty Images
Alexa Chung
in Chloe
Alicia Vikander. Getty Images
Alicia Vikander
in Louis Vuitton
Cate Blanchett. Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/WireImag
Cate Blanchett
in Maison Margiela
Charlotte Rampling. WireImage
Charlotte Rampling
in Saint Laurent
Mayim Bialik. Getty Images
Mayim Bialik
in Saint Laurent
Alicia Silverstone. WireImage
Alicia Silverstone
Luka Sabbat. WireImage
Luka Sabbat
Jude Law. Corbis via Getty Images
Jude Law
Da’Vine Joy Randolph. WireImage
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
in Alfredo Martinez
Shailene Woodley. FilmMagic
Shailene Woodley
in Fendi
Molly Gordon. Getty Images
Molly Gordon
in Giorgio Armani
Mia Goth. Getty Images
Mia Goth
in Dior
Jacob Elordi. WireImage
Jacob Elordi
Kaitlyn Dever. Getty Images
Kaitlyn Dever
in Giorgio Armani
Callum Turner. Getty Images
Callum Turner
in Louis Vuitton
Leslie Bibb. Getty Images
Leslie Bibb
in Giorgio Armani
Paris Jackson. Getty Images
Paris Jackson
in Trussardi
Gemma Chan. Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/WireImag
Gemma Chan
in Armani Privé
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/WireImag
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
in Armani Privé
Sofia Carson. WireImage
Sofia Carson
in Armani Privé
Suki Waterhouse. Getty Images
Suki Waterhouse
in Rabanne
Tilda Swinton. Getty Images
Tilda Swinton
in Chanel
Julia Roberts. WireImage
Julia Roberts
in Versace
Ayo Edebiri. Getty Images
Ayo Edebiri
in Chanel
Monica Barbaro. WireImage
Monica Barbaro
in Dior
Andrew Garfield. WireImage
Andrew Garfield
in Dior
Chloe Sevigny. Getty Images
Chloe Sevigny
in Saint Laurent
Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer. Getty Images
The Venice Film Festival is always a glamorous affair, but this year’s prestigious competition just might be the most star-studded yet. The 11-day extravaganza, which kicks off on August 27 and runs through September 6, is filled with noteworthy film premieres, screenings and fêtes, all of which are attended by A-list filmmakers and celebrities.
Alexander Payne is the jury president for the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, and this year’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement which will be awarded to Werner Herzog and Kim Novak.
Glitzy movie premieres aside, let’s not forget about the sartorial moments at Venice, because attendees always bring their most fashionable A-game to walk the red carpet in front of the Lido’s Palazzo del Cinema. It’s a week-and-a-half of some of the best style moments of the year, and we’re keeping you updated with all the top ensembles on the Venice red carpet. Below, see the best fashion moments from the 2025 Venice International Film Festival.
Molly Gordon. Getty Images
Molly Gordon
in Giorgio Armani
Mia Goth. Getty Images
Mia Goth
in Dior
Jacob Elordi. WireImage
Jacob Elordi
Kaitlyn Dever. Getty Images
Kaitlyn Dever
in Giorgio Armani
Callum Turner. Getty Images
Callum Turner
in Louis Vuitton
Leslie Bibb. Getty Images
Leslie Bibb
in Giorgio Armani
Paris Jackson. Getty Images
Paris Jackson
Gemma Chan. Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/WireImag
Gemma Chan
in Armani Privé
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/WireImag
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
in Armani Privé
Sofia Carson. WireImage
Sofia Carson
in Armani Privé
Suki Waterhouse. Getty Images
Suki Waterhouse
in Rabanne
Tilda Swinton. Getty Images
Tilda Swinton
in Chanel
Julia Roberts. WireImage
Julia Roberts
in Versace
Ayo Edebiri. Getty Images
Ayo Edebiri
in Chanel
Monica Barbaro. WireImage
Monica Barbaro
in Dior
Andrew Garfield. WireImage
Andrew Garfield
in Dior
Chloe Sevigny. Getty Images
Chloe Sevigny
in Saint Laurent
Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer. Getty Images
Dune: Part Two, the upcoming sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 sci-fi epic based on the Frank Herbert novels, is releasing in just two weeks, but somehow the team behind it kept one major star’s involvement a total secret. During the February 15 world premiere in London, The Queen’s Gambit actor Anya Taylor-Joy appeared on the red carpet to confirm that she is, indeed, a member of the sequel’s cast. This came after an eagle-eyed Letterboxd user noticed that Dune: Part Two was listed under Taylor-Joy’s credits on the review aggregation app.
In Dune: Spice Wars The Spice Must Flow But Remember To Hydrate
Variety confirmed that Taylor-Joy is a part of the cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha, and many more huge Hollywood stars. But, Variety refused to “spoil” who Taylor-Joy is playing, and it doesn’t appear that anyone else is willing to say who, either.
Except me. Dune novel spoilers below, but let’s be real, the book came out in 1965.
Anya Taylor-Joy is probably Alia Atreides in Dune: Part Two
First, an attempt at a brief Dune synopsis. In the far future, an interstellar society is comprised of noble houses whose fiefdoms are entire planets. The Atreides family, led by Duke Leto (played by Oscar Isaac in Dune: Part One), is ordered to take a harsh desert planet known as Arrakis as its new fief. Though the planet is virtually inhospitable, it is the only source of the highly sought after resource known as “spice,” a psychedelic drug that is used in space navigation. But as soon as the Atreides family arrives on Arrakis, it’s clear that they’ve walked into a trap set by the rival House Harkonnen, who wants to wipe them out entirely.
As seen in Dune: Part One, the Harkonnens’ plan results in Leto’s death, and forces Paul and his mother, Jessica, to flee into the desert. It’s there that they come into contact withe the Fremen, Arrakis’ native people who have learned how to thrive (not just survive) on the harsh planet. There’s a whole messianic thing that I can’t even begin to get into, but what’s important here in regards to Taylor-Joy is this: Jessica is pregnant, and submits to the “spice agony,” a ritual where she takes a deadly amount of spice. Because she’s with child, the baby is exposed to the spice in utero, and is born possessing all the knowledge of a fully grown adult.
Alia Atreides looks and sounds like a child, but is a full-blown Reverend Mother, the highest tier attainable amongst the Bene Gesserit (a matriarchal order that has religious and political power). In David Lynch’s Dune from 1984, Alia is played by a child actor, but I think (especially when seeing what Taylor-Joy wore to the premiere, and how it compares to what Alia wears in Lynch’s film) that Villeneuve has figured out a way to present Alia as an adult.
Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, and Timothee Chalamet (from left) in Dune. Ryan Stetz/HBO
Whether you want surprisingly funny family dramas, international excellence, or a refresher on one of the decade’s biggest sci-fi franchises, you’re in luck. From indies to blockbusters, these are the titles you need to watch before they leave streaming this month.
What’s leaving Netflix
The Farewell
While Lulu Wang’s star-studded series Expatsis still unfurling, why not watch the movie that catapulted the director into the mainstream? The Farewell stars Awkwafina as Billi, an aspiring writer who’s struggling to find work and her place as a Chinese American woman. When she hears that her beloved grandmother, Nai Nai, has been diagnosed with cancer, though, she drops everything to go see her in China. However, there’s another issue: the family is keeping Nai Nai’s diagnosis a secret from her, and a reluctant Billi must do so too. The Farewellwill be available to stream until February 29th.
Dune
After a lengthy, strike-related delay, Dune: Part Two is finally on the horizon. The second installment of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic (out March 1st) features a sprawling cast (with new additions Austin Butler and Florence Pugh) on top of a dense mythos, so there’s no time like the present to catch up by watching Dune. Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul, heir to the House Atreides within the galactic empire, who must contend with political threats to his father (Oscar Isaac) and strange trials courtesy of his mother (Rebecca Ferguson). Along the way, he encounters friends and foes alike, played by Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Jason Momoa, and Josh Brolin. Dunestreams through the end of the month.
What’s leaving Hulu
Paddington
As winter truly begins to wear on us all, it’s the perfect time to watch some of the coziest movies of the 21st century. Paddington and its sequel are the rare family movie franchise to truly appeal to all ages, from the title bear’s expertly animated cuddliness to the A-list actors who get to play cartoonish villains (Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, the latter in a BAFTA-nominated performance). Though sweet little Paddington gets himself into quite the precarious predicaments, his mantra of “if we’re kind and polite, the world will be right” always holds true. Paddingtonstreams until the end of the month, while Paddington 2is available through February 26th.
What’s leaving Max
Drive My Car
Layered, lengthy, and packed with a lot of languages, Drive My Car is one of the most daring dramas of the decade so far. The film follows a theater actor and director who discovers his wife’s infidelity before her untimely death. Bereft and unmoored, he decides to accept a theater residency that will have him directing a multilingual production of Uncle Vanya. Ultimately, it’s a movie about understanding, and how we may never be able to achieve it when it comes to those we love. Everything about the film is superb, and there’s a reason why the movie was nominated for four Oscars. Drive My Carstreams through the end of the month.
What’s leaving Peacock
Five Nights at Freddy’s
One of last year’s biggest horror hits is departing streaming later this month. Five Nights at Freddy’s became a smash success when it was released in theaters and on Peacock last October, bringing the thrills from the beloved video game to screens both big and small. Josh Hutcherson stars as Mike, a man so desperate for a job that he takes on a gig as a nighttime security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a family pizzeria-slash-arcade with plenty of skeletons in its supply closets. Before long, things begin to go bump in the night, leaving Mike to solve a decades-old mystery. Five Nights at Freddy’sstreams through February 25th.
The Descendants
While The Holdoverscurrently stands as a favorite at the Oscars, it’s far from the first time that filmmaker Alexander Payne has seen success with the Academy. In fact, he won his second Oscar in 2012 for The Descendants, a complex family dramedy. George Clooney stars as Matt, a man who’s inherited and attained great wealth (including a large swath of land in Hawaii), but all of that stability vanishes when his wife gets in an accident that leaves her comatose. He must grapple with his role as a cousin, a husband and a father to his two daughters (Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller). The Descendantsstreams through the end of the month.
What to Watchis a regular endorsement of movies and TV worth your streaming time.
Hold on to your seats, sci-fi fans, because Dune: Part Two is about to gears up for its release! The hotly anticipated sequel to the 2021 hit Dune is on track to surpass its predecessor’s box office performance and treat audiences to an extended run in IMAX theaters. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and produced by Warner Bros., the sci-fi epic promises stunning visuals and a star-studded cast that will leave fans on the edge of their seats. Fans are eagerly awaiting the next installment in theaters on November 3, 2023. With an extended IMAX run, its box office potential is looking brighter than ever.
The prospect of an extended IMAX run and the absence of major competition bode well for Dune: Part Two’s box office potential. Unlike its predecessor, the sequel won’t face the challenges of a pandemic release, offering a clear path to audience engagement. With no simultaneous streaming release, fans are encouraged to flock to theaters, contributing to the film’s projected box office triumph.
Warner Bros. assures fans that Dune: Part Two picks up right where the first part left off, promising a captivating continuation filled with stunning cinematography and an ensemble cast that includes Timothée Chalamet, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson.
About Dune
Dune captivates audiences with its immersive storytelling. Part one of the film sets the stage flawlessly, delving into the history and politics of the planet Arrakis. The story leaves us on a thrilling cliffhanger, as Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica join forces with the Fremen to bring peace to Arrakis. With Villeneuve’s plan to split the 800-page novel into two parts, fans can look forward to Dune 2.
Dune: Part Two continues the epic tale of Paul Atreides, portrayed by the talented Timothée Chalamet, as he navigates a treacherous desert planet in search of the valuable resource known as ‘spice’. Villeneuve’s visionary direction and the stellar performances of the cast bring Herbert’s intricate world to life, garnering critical acclaim and audience adoration.
With accolades from the 94th Academy Awards and the overwhelming success of its predecessor, the stage is set for Dune: Part Two to claim its rightful place among sci-fi masterpieces. While fans eagerly await its release, Warner Bros. is already working on a television spinoff, Dune: The Sisterhood, exclusively for their streaming platform Max.
