Antonio Banderas takes his first dive into the world of Sci-Fi and a dystopian future, yet maintaining a very philosophical edge to the film. This may be the only time we’ll get to see the actor on the big screen alongside his ex-wife, actress Melanie Griffith.
The film takes place on Earth, in the not so distant year of 2044. Our planet is suffering due to the deterioration of the environment and robots are coexisting alongside with humanity. Jacq Vaucan (Antonio Banderas) is an insurance agent in a multinational robotics company “ROC”. His job is to detect malfunctioning robot units and isolated cases of erratic behavior. During the course of his work, Jacq will witness a series of events, which may determine the future of all humanity! An android has been able to skip the second law of robotics, put forth by writer Isaac Asimov, which states that a robot cannot alter itself or others. No more spoilers… But one thing is for sure, that action and suspense are bound to follow!
The trailer guarantees fantastic visual quality and excellent special effects, which will keep us immersed in the story. As well as Antonio Banderas’ surprising new look for the film. To get a feel for Automata, think of other hits such as Will Smith’s “I, Robot” (2004), Ridley Scott’s classic “Blade Runner” (1982) and “Minority Report” (2002) directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise. They all share a very similar aesthetic, so if you’re a sci-fi fan, you can’t miss out!
The film is of Bulgarian-Spanish production, directed by filmmaker Gabe Ibañez. The cast is truly luxurious, headlining Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, as well as international stars such as Dylan McDermott (In the Line of Fire), Birgitte Hjort Sørensen (actress from the cult Danish series Borgen), Robert Forster (Breaking Bad) and Tim McInnerny (Notting Hill).
Banderas himself calls the film his “baby”, as he not only stars in the flick, but is also the main producer. He told EFE that “[It is] a philosophical, scientific concept called singularity, which is the time in which machines actually overcome the human mind. So it’s a very reflective philosophical science fiction.”
Automata will be released in the US on the 10th of October. There are no exact release dates for the rest of the world yet, but what we do know, is that the Spanish audience will get to enjoy it in the next Film Festival in San Sebastian, where the flick will be competing.
A small fact for tabloid lovers. Antonio and Melanie announced the news of their divorce, after 18 years of marriage, just during the post-production of this film, back in June. Do you think there’ll be any noticeable negative energy in the scenes they share together?
