One of Hollywood’s biggest stars is starring in an unconventional new film, and he recently discussed the thought process behind accepting the role and tailoring his performance to the needs of the movie.
Chris Pratt will star in “Mercy,” set to be released this January. Pratt plays a detective accused of murder, and the film follows his trial. Set in the near future, Pratt’s character must convince a sophisticated AI system of his innocence – all while strapped to a chair for 90 minutes.
During an appearance at New York Comic-Con, Pratt talked about his desire to be physically confined to the chair while shooting his scenes.
Paying Tribute to an All-Time Classic
“I asked them to confine me in it,” the actor said during a panel at the event. “So I couldn’t, I didn’t have to pretend that I was strapped down.”
Pratt says he was cuffed to the chair at the feet and hands, and at one point even his neck. “There’s a certain level of claustrophobia that you just naturally feel when you’re strapped down to something, and that was helpful, in fact,” he added.
“I don’t wanna get out. I want you to lock me in so I can’t get out. That would be helpful to me in giving this performance that I’m completely stuck here.”
Pratt also added that his character’s bare feet in the film were intentional – an homage to the 1988 action classic “Die Hard,” starring Bruce Willis. In that film, Willis’ iconic character of John McClane removes his shoes to ease tension in his feet – a decision he regrets later in the movie when he’s forced to walk across glass.
Chris Pratt’s Career Continues to Grow
“Mercy” is Pratt’s latest film following a string of major blockbusters. He’s played Peter Quill/Star Lord in several “Avengers” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies, and he was also a longtime part of the “Jurassic World” franchise.
Pratt is also an accomplished voice actor, taking leading roles in “Onward,” “The Garfield Movie” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
A sequel to the latter – titled “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” – is set to release in theaters next Spring. The film will feature an ensemble cast like its predecessor, with Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, Keegan Michael-Key and others returning to reprise their roles.
The first “Super Mario Bros.” film grossed over $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office, making it one of the biggest hits of 2023. To date, it remains the highest-grossing film to be based on a video game and was also nominated for several Academy Awards.
We’ll see what surprises Pratt has in store for action audiences when “Mercy” releases in theaters on January 23, 2026.
This story was originally reported by Men’s Journal on Oct 12, 2025, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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