Chris Pratt Goes to Extremes: Actor Locked in Execution Chair for Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Mercy’

Chris Pratt has built a career on playing lovable rogues and animated heroes, but for his latest role, the actor went to terrifying lengths to capture genuine fear. While filming the new sci-fi thriller Mercy, Pratt made a chilling request of the production team: he asked to be physically locked into the film’s central prop—a high-tech execution chair—for real.

The decision led to some of the most intense moments of Pratt’s career. In a recent interview with BBC News, the actor revealed that he wanted to feel the actual panic of being trapped to ensure his performance as Detective Chris Raven felt authentic. Instead of pretending to be restrained, he had the crew secure the bindings tight enough that he was completely immobile for takes that lasted up to 50 minutes.

“I thought this would help lend itself to the performance, and feelings of claustrophobia and being trapped,” Pratt explained. The experience quickly became physically grueling. The actor described moments of genuine distress where he was sweating profusely and suffering from an itch on his face that he was powerless to scratch. He noted that the sensation of being unable to get up, even if he wanted to, bridged the gap between acting and reality, forcing him to inhabit the character’s desperation.

This extreme method acting is a significant pivot for the star, who is best known to audiences as the quippy Peter Quill in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise or the voice behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Garfield Movie. In Mercy, however, the stakes are deadly serious. Pratt plays a veteran detective accused of a violent crime who is forced to prove his innocence to an artificial intelligence judge.

The film, directed by Timur Bekmambetov, presents a near-future dystopia where capital punishment is swift and automated. Pratt’s character has only a 90-minute window to clear his name before the execution device he is strapped into carries out its lethal function. To heighten the isolation, Pratt revealed that his co-star, Rebecca Ferguson—who plays the AI Judge Maddox—was not physically on set during these scenes. He was reacting to her voice while sitting alone in the “big box” set, further amplifying the feeling of solitude.

Bekmambetov, a director known for visual flair in films like Wanted, praised Pratt’s commitment to the physically demanding role. The movie also stars Annabelle Wallis as Pratt’s wife and Kali Reis as his partner, rounding out a cast that navigates a grim world of high-tech justice. For Pratt, Mercy continues a trend toward grittier, more grounded action roles, following the success of his Amazon Prime series The Terminal List.

Fans accustomed to the actor’s comedic timing might be surprised by the intensity of Mercy, but Pratt seems eager to challenge those expectations. He has stated that after years of playing “goofy and guileless” characters, he wanted to tackle a role that offered no safety net.

Looking ahead, Pratt isn’t slowing down. Following the January 2026 release of Mercy, he is set to return to the world of military thrillers. He is currently involved in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, a prequel series that promises to expand on the lore of his popular James Reece character. Additionally, he appeared in the Russo Brothers’ The Electric State in 2025, further cementing his status as a sci-fi staple.

As Mercy hits theaters, audiences will have to decide if Pratt’s suffering in the chair paid off in the final performance. The scene serves as a reminder that behind the blockbuster gloss, the physical reality of filmmaking can sometimes be just as harrowing as the fiction it portrays.

Do you think method acting goes too far when actors put themselves in physical distress, or is it necessary for a great performance—share your thoughts in the comments.