A trailer has landed for “The Circle,” an upcoming sci-fi film led by Emma Watson. The former “Harry Potter” franchise star plays Mae, a young woman who gets hired for a job at The Circle, a powerful tech and social media company with cultish undertones.
The clip kicks off with Mae’s job interview for the gig. When asked to identify her greatest fear, she says “unfulfilled potential.” At this point she seems blissfully — dangerously — unaware of how her potential may be exploited by The Circle.
“I am a believer in the perfectibility of human beings,” says Bailey (Tom Hanks), The Circle’s head honcho. He insists, “At The Circle, there isn’t a problem that we cannot solve. We can cure any disease and we can cure hunger. Without secrets, without the hoarding of knowledge and information, we can finally realize our potential.” But all of this comes at a cost, and it seems as though Mae and others lose their freedom and privacy with the advent of new technology that allows for constant surveillance.
The trailer doesn’t give away too many details, but it seems as though Mae discovers the dark underbelly of The Circle. We’ll have to wait to see what she decides to do about it.
“The Circle” is based on Dave Eggers’ 2013 best-selling novel of the same name. The book was adapted by James Ponsoldt (“The End of the Tour,” “Smashed”), who also directed the feature.
Karen Gillan (“Selfie,” “Doctor Who”) and John Boyega (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) co-star.
Next up for Watson is Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast,” out March 17, 2017. “The Circle” hits theaters about a month later, April 28.
