The upcoming film from Gareth Edwards, The Creator, is scheduled for a premiere in just over two months. This much-anticipated movie promises a visual feast, in line with the director’s signature style exhibited in blockbuster hits such as Godzilla and Rogue One. Not only that, but it offers an intriguing exploration of the theoretical scenario of artificial intelligence becoming sentient and threatening to wipe out humanity, a theme mainly confined to science fiction until now.
The narrative of the film is kept under wraps, but it centralizes on a struggle between humans and A.I. The film stars John David Washington as a former special forces operative, tormented by the disappearance of his wife, played by Gemma Chan. His journey involves hunting down and neutralizing the enigmatic Creator, the mastermind behind the A.I. technology. This daunting Creator has let loose a formidable and powerful weapon with the potential to exterminate humanity. However, a shocking discovery is made during his quest to save mankind — the apocalyptic weapon is actually an A.I. entity in the form of a child.
Edwards engaged in a discussion with Perri Nemiroff of FilmSweep about the film’s impending release and the underlying themes he aims to convey. When asked if the film was a warning about the possible perils of artificial intelligence — a currently trendy topic in media — or if it portrays it as a tool that could better our lives, Edwards elucidated that the movie would depict both perspectives.
Image via 20th Century Studios
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Highlighting that subtleties and nuances enrich a story, Edwards compellingly argued against the oversimplified dichotomy between the two perspectives. He said, “It’s about representing both facets of AI. But no spoilers. I prefer movies that exist in the gray areas rather than clear-cut black and white. It’s up to the viewers to form their opinions and feelings at the end of the movie after considering both sides.”
Audiences Need Time to Reflect on a Film’s Message
Nemiroff proposed that films with ambiguous messages tend to leave a longer-lasting impact, a notion which Edwards concurred with. He added that, during the test screenings for The Creator, they discovered that viewers needed some time to digest the movie before they could articulate their reactions. Edwards elucidated:
“We discovered during test screenings that everyone needed some time to reflect. When you switch on the lights and ask, ‘What do you think?’ everyone needed to ponder. It was intriguing since that’s what we were anticipating. But the response was quite predictable. It was a lot to take in. We were familiar with it, having seen it multiple times, and were trying to find the perfect pace for the movie. I like the idea of it lingering in your mind, leaving you uncertain about your feelings towards it.”
Edwards humorously suggested that multiple viewings could also yield personal benefits, saying, “Each repeated viewing certainly enriches the experience, especially when you pay 20 bucks to see it again in the theater. I’d recommend at least 10 viewings if you can manage it.”
The Creator is set to hit theaters on September 29. Take a look at the latest trailer below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Gareth Edwards ‘The Creator’
What is the premise of Gareth Edwards’ new film ‘The Creator’?
‘The Creator’ is a film that explores the concept of artificial intelligence becoming sentient and posing a threat to humanity. The plot revolves around a conflict between humans and A.I., with John David Washington playing an ex-special forces agent who is on a mission to eliminate the Creator, the genius behind the A.I. technology.
Who are the lead actors in ‘The Creator’?
John David Washington and Gemma Chan are the lead actors in ‘The Creator’. Washington portrays an ex-special forces agent whose wife, played by Chan, has vanished.
What themes does Gareth Edwards discuss in ‘The Creator’?
Edwards explores the potential benefits and dangers of artificial intelligence in ‘The Creator’. He presents both perspectives to the audience, eschewing a binary representation and instead favoring a nuanced, gray area approach.
How did audiences respond to test screenings of ‘The Creator’?
During test screenings of ‘The Creator’, audiences found they needed time to process the film before they could fully articulate their feelings about it. This response was in line with the director’s expectations and speaks to the thought-provoking nature of the film.
When is ‘The Creator’ releasing in theaters?
‘The Creator’ is set to open in theaters on September 29.
More about Gareth Edwards ‘The Creator’
- Gareth Edwards’ Previous Work – ‘Godzilla’
- Gareth Edwards’ Previous Work – ‘Rogue One’
- Gareth Edwards – IMDb Profile
- John David Washington – IMDb Profile
- Gemma Chan – IMDb Profile
- Artificial Intelligence in Cinema
- ‘The Creator’ – Upcoming Releases (Note: This link might not work if the movie isn’t listed on Box Office Mojo yet.)
5 comments
uhh.. was blown away by the concept!! AI becoming sentient and threatening humanity, has always been a fav theme of mine. psyched to watch it on 29th Sep!!
10 viewings, Edwards? Haha, nice try! But seriously, if it’s as thought-provoking as he suggests, might just take him up on that. Love films that make me think!
can’t wait to see this!! loved Edwards’ work in rogue one. sure this will be another masterpiece. J D Washington is a solid choice!
Sounds a bit deep… Not sure how i feel about films where u gotta think too much lol. But my bf loves this kinda stuff, so probs end up watching it anyways.
Seriously, Hollywood again with AI gone rogue? But I gotta admit the plot does sound interesting. Guess ill be one of the audiences pondering about the movie.