Chris Pratt has shared an intense behind the scenes detail from his upcoming sci fi thriller Mercy. For this role, he personally asked to be locked barefoot into an execution chair to make his performance feel more real.
Known for his lighthearted and humorous roles in films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, Pratt takes a very different path in Mercy.
The story unfolds in real time. Raven wakes up strapped into an execution chair after a night of heavy drinking. He has just 90 minutes to prove his innocence to an artificial intelligence judge. To make things worse, Raven cannot remember what happened the night before and is dealing with a severe hangover.
Pratt said he wanted the physical discomfort to shape his acting. He asked director Timur Bekmambetov to keep him restrained for long stretches, sometimes up to 50 minutes at a time. He explained that being unable to move, scratch an itch, or stand up helped create real feelings of panic, isolation, and claustrophobia.
The actor also said this role pushed him far outside his comfort zone. He could not rely on his usual charm or humor. Instead, he had to stay serious and grounded throughout the film. Pratt described the experience as challenging but deeply rewarding.
Defendants are allowed access to surveillance footage and short phone calls with witnesses. However, there is no jury and no right to appeal. If the system reaches a guilt score of 92 percent or higher, the punishment is immediate execution.
He could hear Rebecca Ferguson’s voice but could not see her during filming. This physical separation added to the emotional strain of the role.
This allowed Pratt to film intense fight and stunt scenes outside the courtroom setting. He described it as feeling like he was working on two films at once.
Pratt said working on Mercy felt more fulfilling than some large blockbuster productions. Unlike disjointed shoots that result in only seconds of usable footage, this film felt like performing a full stage play with the visual scale of a major movie.
