The trailer for Emma Watson’s latest film The Circle has just arrived online, and it’s halfway between a Silicon Valley recruitment video and a particularly chilling episode of Black Mirror.
Adapted from Dave Eggers’ hit novel, The Circle sees Emma star as an idealistic college grad Mae, who joins a Facebook-esque tech company led by Tom Hanks’ Eamon Bailey, who is shown delivering seemingly idealistic speeches to an adoring crown of employees.
The Circle, which has created ‘SeeChange’ cameras that can record a user’s entire life, relies on the motto that ‘sharing is caring’ when it comes to personal data – Mae even becomes ‘internet-famous’ after she uses the device, and is shown taking selfies with a flock of adoring fans.
While everything seems promising initially, the more that Mae learns, the more troubled she becomes by the implications of this new technology. Eventually, she forces with programmer Kalden (played by Star Wars’ John Boyega) to take on their employers.
Director James Ponsoldt told USA Today that Emma’s character ‘becomes a pseudo-celebrity with her superpower that she’s natural, relatable and willing to speak freely about everything in her life. But it gets to the point where it’s almost a religion and then a glass prison of celebrity.’
With shades of Charlie Brooker’s dystopian tech-drama Black Mirror, The Circle certainly looks to be an intense – and thought-provoking – watch. Our only complaint is that the trailer is considerably light on appearances from John Boyega, with The Force Awakens’ breakout star only appearing towards the end of the two-minute clip.
Also on board are Boyhood’s Ellar Coltrane and former Doctor Who sidekick Karen Gillan.
The Circle is set for a US release date of April 28th 2017, with a date for the UK yet to be confirmed.
Watch the trailer for The Circle below
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