With the growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and its potential to disrupt society, it’s no surprise that more films are exploring the idea of humanity taking a stand against AI. One such film is 20th Century Studios’ The Creator, directed by Gareth Edwards. In its first trailer, what stands out is the unexpected surprise the characters face when they find themselves in the midst of a robot apocalypse.
Set in a world ravaged by a nuclear disaster caused by rogue AI, The Creator follows Joshua (played by John David Washington), a mourning widower and special forces agent assigned to track down the Creator – the entity responsible for activating the world’s deadly machines. When Joshua and his team discover that the Creator may have developed a weapon capable of ending the ongoing AI vs. human war, they embark on a mission to obtain it and reclaim control of the planet. Interestingly, the sought-after weapon appears to be a mechanical child named Alfie (portrayed by Madeleine Yuna Voyles), whose innocent appearance may hide ultimate power, prompting viewers to ponder the true meaning of being “alive.”
It’s apparent that Joshua won’t simply be able to discard Alfie once they meet, and their connection will likely highlight a deeper message about the relationship between humans and machines. The Creator is set to hit theaters on September 29th. However, the trailer raises the question of whether the film industry will uncover a novel approach to telling these types of stories or continue to rehash familiar ideas and concepts.