Actor Chris Pratt is going all-in for his latest role — quite literally. The Guardians of the Galaxy star revealed that he asked to be physically confined to a chair throughout filming his new sci-fi thriller Mercy, describing how the intense setup helped him deliver a more genuine performance.

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Chris Pratt’s New Thriller Mercy Pushes Him to the Edge

In Mercy, set for release on January 23, 2026, Pratt plays a detective accused of murdering his wife in a chilling, AI-driven justice system of the near future. His character faces a 90-minute trial overseen by an artificial intelligence “judge,” which uses surveillance footage, social media posts, and text messages to determine guilt or innocence.

Throughout much of the film, Pratt’s character remains strapped to a futuristic interrogation chair, unable to move — a deliberate choice by the actor himself.

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“I Asked Them to Confine Me in It”

During a New York Comic Con 2025 panel at the Javits Center, Pratt explained his unusual request to costar Kali Reis and director Timur Bekmambetov.

“I asked them to confine me in it,” Pratt said. “So I didn’t have to pretend that I was strapped down. I was cuffed to this chair — hands, feet, and even my head at one point. There’s a certain level of claustrophobia that you just naturally feel when you’re restrained like that, and it was really helpful to my performance.”

The 46-year-old actor went a step further by refusing to learn the emergency release mechanism. “They told me, ‘If you want to get out, just pop this,’” he recalled. “But I said, ‘No, lock me in. I don’t want to get out. That’ll help me believe I’m completely stuck here.’”

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A Die Hard Tribute Hidden in the Details

One small but meaningful detail in Mercy caught fans’ attention — Pratt’s character appears barefoot throughout much of the film. The actor revealed that this choice was a nod to Bruce Willis’s John McClane in the 1988 classic Die Hard.

“The bare feet were an ode to Die Hard,” Pratt explained. “It’s subtle, but it connects to that feeling of vulnerability. McClane was tough but exposed — and that’s exactly what my character is going through.”

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Inside Mercy: A High-Tech Thriller for the AI Age

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Profile), Mercy explores the moral and emotional limits of an AI-powered legal system. With society relying on technology for justice, human emotion and truth become secondary to data-driven decisions.

Pratt stars alongside Kali Reis, Colman Domingo, and Rebecca Ferguson in what’s being described as a “tense, single-location thriller” that combines psychological drama with futuristic dystopia.

Bekmambetov, known for his innovative use of technology in storytelling, shot large portions of the film in real-time, emphasizing tension through long takes and minimal camera cuts.

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Chris Pratt on Immersive Acting and “Authentic Reactions”

Pratt said the physical restriction added an unexpected layer of realism to his portrayal. “There’s a difference between acting trapped and actually feeling trapped,” he said. “Being confined let me find those real emotions — fear, frustration, hopelessness — without having to fake them.”

This dedication mirrors Pratt’s recent shift toward more intense, grounded roles following major blockbuster franchises like Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy.

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When and Where to Watch Mercy

Fans can see Pratt’s fully immersive performance when Mercy premieres in theaters on January 23, 2026, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios.

With a gripping premise, bold direction, and Pratt’s commitment to authenticity, Mercy promises to be one of the most talked-about thrillers of 2026.