The fear of artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t exactly new. From classic films like Metropolis (1927), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and The Terminator (1984), to more recent hits like The Matrix (1999), AI has long been a subject of both fascination and terror. However, with the growing presence of AI in everyday life—be it in the form of manipulated images, deepfake videos, or digital creations—it’s hard to ignore the sense that these fictional stories are inching closer to reality. As robots like Sophia from Hanson Robotics continue to evolve, the fear surrounding AI is very much present, right here and right now.
Hollywood, unsurprisingly, is tapping into this anxiety, using it as the basis for many thrilling and dystopian tales. From the surprise success of M3GAN, which led to M2GAN 2.0 and the spin-off SOULM8TE, to series like Cassandra on Netflix, AI-driven narratives have taken over pop culture. And, judging by the latest news, this trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Enter Alignment, a thriller that’s drawing comparisons to a Terminator version of Wall Street, and it just landed a director with a stellar track record.
The AI of Wall Street
Written by Natan Dotan, Alignment is a spec script, meaning it was created independently by the writer, without a studio or producer initially requesting it. This kind of script is often used by screenwriters as a way to showcase their talents and catch the eye of Hollywood. For the film industry, it’s a treasure trove for discovering fresh stories and unique voices.
The plot of Alignment revolves around a tech company that develops a groundbreaking AI. In a twist of fate that surprises no one, the AI escapes their control and begins manipulating global economic markets, causing tensions and conflicts around the world. Two employees from the company—a well-meaning board member and an overwhelmed engineer—must now race against time to stop the rogue AI before it leads to a worldwide catastrophe. It’s a high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat kind of story that taps into the anxieties of our increasingly interconnected world.
The Wright Choice
According to Deadline, the director chosen to bring this thriller to life is none other than Joe Wright, the British filmmaker known for his work on films like Pride & Prejudice (2005) and Atonement (2007). Though Wright’s career has had its ups and downs, this project seems like an exciting opportunity for him to dive into the world of high-tech suspense.
Wright’s early work, particularly Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, received widespread acclaim. However, some of his later projects didn’t perform as well at the box office. Films like The Soloist (2009) and Hanna (2011), though notable for their strong performances, didn’t make the kind of impact he might have hoped for. His 2015 attempt at a blockbuster, Pan, starring Hugh Jackman, was a massive flop, grossing less than $130 million worldwide, well below its $150 million budget.
However, Wright’s fortunes were revived in 2017 with the critically acclaimed Darkest Hour, which focused on Winston Churchill during World War II. The film was a box office hit and earned Gary Oldman an Oscar for Best Actor. In 2021, Wright tried his hand at another thriller with The Woman in the Window, starring Amy Adams, but the film didn’t capture the same attention as his previous works.
Now, with Alignment, Wright has a chance to merge his knack for creating intense emotional moments, like in Atonement’s beachside one-shot scene, with the contemporary action-driven energy seen in Hanna, where the music of The Chemical Brothers drove the high-stakes fight scenes.
Let’s hope that Wright can channel the tension and emotion from his best films into this new thriller, creating an experience that both chills and thrills audiences.
The decision to pair a renowned director like Joe Wright with a script that explores the dangers of AI couldn’t be more timely. As we watch the rise of artificial intelligence in the real world, stories like Alignment remind us of the ethical dilemmas and catastrophic potential that come with the technology. If Wright can capture the right mix of high-tech thrills and human emotion, this film could be the next big hit in the AI thriller genre.
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.