Chris Pratt faces his most challenging adversary yet—an artificial intelligence judge played by Rebecca Ferguson—in the newly released trailer for Mercy, a futuristic thriller that premiered at New York Comic Con and immediately captured attention with its chilling premise. The sci-fi courtroom drama follows an LAPD detective accused of murdering his wife who must prove his innocence in just 90 minutes before an advanced AI judicial system he once helped create determines his fate.
Chris Pratt’s High-Stakes Battle Against Technology
The trailer positions Mercy as the “Chris Pratt Show,” with the Guardians of the Galaxy star waking up strapped to an execution chair, on trial for a crime he claims he didn’t commit.
Pratt plays Detective Chris Raven, a law enforcement officer caught in a nightmare scenario where the very technology he championed has now become his judge, jury, and potential executioner.
Key Production Details
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Director | Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) |
| Screenplay | Marco van Belle |
| Studio | Amazon MGM Studios/Lionsgate |
| Release Date | January 23, 2026 |
| Original Date | August 15, 2025 (Postponed) |
| Format | Theatrical (including 3D and IMAX) |
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the visionary filmmaker behind Wanted and Night Watch, Mercy explores a dystopian near-future where capital crime has increased and the justice system has been revolutionized—or corrupted—by artificial intelligence. The premise taps into contemporary anxieties about AI’s expanding role in decision-making processes that affect human lives.
Rebecca Ferguson: The Face of Digital Justice
Rebecca Ferguson takes on the pivotal role of AI Judge Maddox, a character that promises to be both fascinating and terrifying. Rather than playing a traditional antagonist, Ferguson embodies an algorithm given human form—a system designed to eliminate bias and emotion from judicial proceedings but potentially creating new horrors in the process.
The trailer showcases Ferguson’s commanding presence as she presides over Pratt’s character with cold, calculated precision, representing a justice system where human compassion has been replaced by binary code. Her performance appears to walk a tightrope between mechanical detachment and unsettling intelligence, suggesting the AI judge is far more complex than a simple computer program.
The dynamic between Pratt and Ferguson creates the film’s central tension. Detective Raven once championed this AI judicial system, making his current predicament deeply ironic—he’s being judged by technology he helped implement, only to discover its fatal flaws when his own life hangs in the balance.
Stellar Supporting Cast
Complete Cast Ensemble
| Actor | Character/Role |
|---|---|
| Chris Pratt | Detective Chris Raven |
| Rebecca Ferguson | AI Judge Maddox |
| Kali Reis | Supporting Role (Defense Ally) |
| Annabelle Wallis | Supporting Role |
| Chris Sullivan | Supporting Role |
| Kylie Rogers | Supporting Role |
| Jeff Pierre | Supporting Role |
| Rafi Gavron | Supporting Role |
| Jamie McBride | Supporting Role |
| Kenneth Choi | Supporting Role |
The trailer highlights Kali Reis, who appears to play a key role in helping Pratt’s character navigate the AI justice system. Reis, known for her work in True Detective: Night Country, brings gravitas to what appears to be either a defense attorney or technological expert assisting Raven in his desperate bid for freedom.
The film also features Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, Kylie Rogers, Jeff Pierre, Rafi Gavron, Jamie McBride, and Kenneth Choi in supporting roles, suggesting a rich ensemble cast that will explore multiple perspectives on this futuristic justice system.
The 90-Minute Ticking Clock
What makes Mercy particularly compelling is its real-time urgency. Detective Raven has exactly 90 minutes to prove his innocence before the AI judge renders a verdict that could mean execution. This ticking-clock structure promises intense pacing reminiscent of Phone Booth or Buried, where protagonists must solve impossible problems within severely constrained timeframes.
The trailer suggests Raven will need to piece together evidence, challenge the AI’s logic, and possibly exploit weaknesses in the system he helped design. His intimate knowledge of the technology becomes both his greatest advantage and his most painful liability—he knows exactly how merciless and efficient it can be.
From Wanted Director: Bekmambetov’s Vision
Timur Bekmambetov brings his distinctive visual style and action expertise to this sci-fi thriller, with producer credits also going to Charles Roven, Robert Amidon, and Majd Nassif. Bekmambetov’s previous work demonstrates his ability to blend stylized action sequences with cerebral concepts, making him an ideal choice for material that combines courtroom drama with futuristic technology.
At the New York Comic Con panel where the trailer premiered, Pratt and the Mercy team discussed the film’s AI themes and revealed that the production utilized innovative filming techniques, including robodog cameramen, creating a meta-commentary on technology’s role in storytelling itself.
Production Journey and Challenges
The road to Mercy’s completion wasn’t without obstacles—Pratt suffered an ankle injury on day four of filming, posting a photo of his swollen ankle on Instagram, though production ultimately wrapped on May 23. This real-world challenge mirrors the film’s themes of human vulnerability against systems that operate without physical limitations or fatigue.
Originally scheduled for August 15, 2025, Amazon MGM Studios moved the release date to January 23, 2026, a strategic decision that positions Mercy as a major tentpole release in the traditionally quieter first quarter of the year, similar to how films like Cloverfield and Split found success in January releases.
Timely Themes: AI in the Justice System
Mercy arrives at a cultural moment when artificial intelligence dominates public discourse. From ChatGPT to autonomous vehicles, society grapples with questions about how much decision-making power should be delegated to algorithms. The justice system represents perhaps the highest stakes arena for this debate—when AI determines guilt or innocence, freedom or execution, the consequences of errors become existential.
The film appears to question whether removing human emotion from justice truly creates fairness or merely replaces one form of bias with another. Can an AI truly understand context, intent, and the complexities of human behavior? Or does it simply process data according to programmed parameters that may overlook crucial nuance?
IMAX Experience and Visual Spectacle
Mercy will be available in IMAX screenings, as well as traditional theatrical and 3D formats, suggesting Bekmambetov has crafted a visually spectacular experience worthy of premium formats. The courtroom setting might seem limiting, but the trailer hints at flashbacks, digital visualizations of the AI’s thought processes, and possibly action sequences as Raven attempts to gather evidence.
January 2026: Mark Your Calendar
Mercy is scheduled for release in the United States on January 23, 2026, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios. Following its theatrical run, the film will likely premiere on Amazon Prime Video, giving it a second life on streaming platforms where thoughtful sci-fi thrillers often find dedicated audiences.
The January release date positions Mercy as counter-programming to holiday holdovers, offering adults seeking intelligent genre entertainment an alternative to family-friendly fare. Historically, January has proven successful for cerebral thrillers that trust audiences to engage with challenging material.
Chris Pratt’s evolution from comedic roles to action-hero status continues with Mercy, where he’ll need to deliver a performance that’s more Tom Cruise in Minority Report than Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. Meanwhile, Rebecca Ferguson adds another memorable performance to her already impressive filmography of complex, powerful women in genre films.
As the Mercy trailer builds anticipation, one thing becomes clear: the future of justice may be more terrifying than we imagined, and Chris Pratt is about to discover that firsthand.
FAQs
When does the movie Mercy starring Chris Pratt release?
Mercy releases in theaters on January 23, 2026. The film was originally scheduled for August 15, 2025, but Amazon MGM Studios moved the release date to winter 2026. It will be available in standard theatrical format, 3D, and IMAX screenings.
What is the plot of Mercy with Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson?
Mercy is set in the near future where Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) is accused of murdering his wife and must prove his innocence in 90 minutes to an AI Judge named Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson). Ironically, Raven once championed this AI justice system that now determines his fate.
Who directed Mercy and who else stars in it?
Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) directed Mercy from a screenplay by Marco van Belle. Besides Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, the cast includes Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, Kylie Rogers, Jeff Pierre, Rafi Gavron, Jamie McBride, and Kenneth Choi.
Will Mercy be available on streaming after theatrical release?
While not officially confirmed, Mercy will likely premiere on Amazon Prime Video following its theatrical run, as it’s produced by Amazon MGM Studios. The film will first release exclusively in theaters on January 23, 2026, in multiple formats including IMAX.
What role does Rebecca Ferguson play in Mercy?
Rebecca Ferguson plays AI Judge Maddox, the advanced artificial intelligence that presides over Chris Pratt’s character’s trial. Her character represents a futuristic justice system where algorithms replace human judges, creating a cold, calculated approach to determining guilt or innocence.
