Johnny Depp stars as Dr Will Caster, a leading researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence in Wally Pfister’s provocative sci-fi thriller.
Will is working to create a sentient super-computer when he suddenly learns he has only weeks to live after being shot with a radioactive bullet by a group of anti-technology protesters, led by activist Bree (Kate Mara).
Will’s heartbroken wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) enlists the help of fellow scientist Max Waters (Paul Bettany) and Will’s mentor, Professor Jack Tagger (Morgan Freeman), to upload Will’s consciousness into an existing prototype. The upload appears to be a success but his thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly unstoppable quest for power.
Having worked as director of photography for a number of Christopher Nolan films, including Batman Begins, Inception and The Dark Knight Rises, Pfister’s $100million directorial debut raises profound questions about the nature of consciousness and the sinister pitfalls of building artificial intelligence.
Transcendence is a Film programme that first aired in 2014 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
