A robot named Erica will star in an upcoming $70M Sci-Fi feature

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

All hail our eventual robot overlords! If you're listening, and I'm sure you are, I await your emotionless rule with bated breath. Please allow me to serve you in whatever way … Oh, oh, hi.

Stop me if you've heard this one, okay? Bondit Capital Media, who in the past have financed such titled as TO THE BONE and LOVING VINCENT, are teaming with Belgium-based Happy Moon Productions and New York’s Ten Ten Global Media to be the driving force behind b, a $70 million science fiction feature that is said to hinge on an artificially intelligent actor named Erica.

Visual Effects Supervisor Eric Pham created the story for the film alongside Tarek Zohdy, and Sam Khoze, who is also producing via Life Entertainment. The film follows a scientist who discovers dangers associated with a program he created to perfect human DNA and helps the artificially intelligent woman he designed (Erica) escape.

As the story goes, Erica was created by Japanese scientists Hiroshi Ishiguro and Kohei Ogawa, who designed the real life automaton as a part of their exploration into the realm of robotics. In addition to her fabrication, Ishiguro and Ogawa taught Erica how to act, as well as how to apply the principles of method acting to artificial intelligence.

“In other methods of acting, actors involve their own life experiences in the role,” Khoze says. “But Erica has no life experiences. She was created from scratch to play the role. We had to simulate her motions and emotions through one-on-one sessions, such as controlling the speed of her movements, talking through her feelings and coaching character development and body language.”

Originally, Erica was set to make her big screen debut as part of a different project helmed by AMERICAN HISTORY X (Buy Here) director Tony Kaye. However, producers had eventually exited the endeavor citing scheduling conflicts as a reason for the split. When Erica arrives in b, she will do so alongside a human actor that has yet to be cast.

You guys, it's finally happening! Be sure to pack your SKYNET-brand go bag accordingly and watch for the signs. Maybe get yourself a HAM Radio if you don't already have one? I for one will be watching this project very closely as it develops. And again, for the record, I welcome the age of the machines. I will be your battery. Let's do this.