Prolific producer Charles Roven, known for his collaboration with Christopher Nolan on projects like the Academy Award-winning film Oppenheimer, is currently focused on a robust pipeline of new productions through his company, Atlas Entertainment, for Amazon MGM Studios. Roven discussed the future of the movie industry, his upcoming projects including the sci-fi thriller Mercy, and provided updates on Road House 2 and Michael B. Jordan's directorial film, The Thomas Crown Affair.

Roven's latest feature, Mercy, is a "screenlife" thriller from director Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) that delves into the growing presence of Artificial Intelligence. Starring Chris Pratt as Los Angeles police detective Christopher Raven and Rebecca Ferguson as Judge Maddox, the film is set in the near future. Raven wakes up in the "Mercy Chair" and stands before an A.I. judge, jury, and executioner, accused of his wife's murder. He has only 90 minutes and unlimited access to internet camera footage to prove his innocence before immediate execution. The movie, which also features Annabelle Wallis, Kali Reis, Kylie Rogers, and Chris Sullivan, captures the A.I. wave as it has "exploded" into public discourse, making it feel incredibly timely. Roven compares its compelling, often stationary, drama to classic courtroom thrillers like 12 Angry Men and Witness for the Prosecution, noting that the unique screenlife methodology, featuring multiple screens with constant movement and emotional depth, is designed to be experienced on a big screen, ideally in IMAX 3D, where the images are truly "mind-blowing."

Regarding the broader movie industry, Roven maintains an optimistic view about the survival of movie theaters, despite past "death knells" heard with the advent of videotapes and DVDs, and more recently, streaming, COVID-19, and industry strikes. He believes that while smaller films may face increasing challenges, the industry will continue to thrive with a focus on "event pictures." Roven emphasizes the irreplaceable "group experience" of seeing a motion picture in a big-screen theater, which he hopes Mercy will also demonstrate. He acknowledges that streaming is not going away and is suitable for certain movies and TV series, but sees it as more of a threat to traditional TV networks than to theatrical releases. Currently, Mercy is available in theaters, including IMAX and 3D formats.

Roven also shared details on other projects. The sequel to Jake Gyllenhaal's Road House is currently in its final ten days of shooting. Roven, who did not produce the first installment, revealed that Road House 2 will be "more emotional," aiming to provide audiences with a deeper understanding of Elwood Dalton's history and character. The film will feature more famous MMA and UFC fighters and is expected to be released late this year or early next, exclusively on Amazon Prime.

Additionally, Michael B. Jordan's sophomore directorial effort, The Thomas Crown Affair, is also in development. Roven explained that, much like previous remakes of the material (Pierce Brosnan's version rebooting Steve McQueen's), Jordan has brought a fresh vision, providing a compelling new reason for the wealthy Thomas Crown's actions. This version of The Thomas Crown Affair is slated for a theatrical release on March 7, 2027, as an MGM theatrical movie, with a trailer anticipated in the second half of 2026. While Roven boasts a "very robust pipeline" of projects with his team at Atlas Entertainment, he confirmed that no new films are currently greenlit, as his immediate focus has been on completing Mercy and Road House 2, while actively pushing other developments forward.