Transcendence (2014)
- Before Johnny Depp was cast, several major A-list stars turned down the lead role because they felt the script was too risky.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Wally Pfister's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
Transcendence is a 2014 American science fiction thriller directed by Wally Pfister in his directorial debut. Johnny Depp stars as Dr. Will Caster, the world's foremost artificial intelligence researcher, who is shot with a polonium-laced bullet by an anti-technology terrorist group and given only weeks to live.
His wife Evelyn, played by Rebecca Hall, and colleague Max Waters, played by Paul Bettany, upload Will's consciousness into a quantum computer, effectively creating a superintelligent digital version of Will that rapidly expands its capabilities, connecting to the internet and building a vast underground laboratory in the desert where it develops nanotechnology capable of healing injuries, purifying water, and eventually controlling human minds. Transcendence posed fascinating questions about whether a digital copy of a person retains their humanity and whether the benefits of superintelligent AI justify the terrifying loss of human autonomy. Wally Pfister, Christopher Nolan's longtime cinematographer, brought visual sophistication to the production.
The film earned $103 million worldwide on a $100 million budget.
