HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Will Ryder has wrapped principal photography on his sci-fi thriller “Artificial Heart" for Adam & Eve Pictures.
The feature stars Kira Noir, playing an AI robot named Dana, alongside Tyler Cruise and Maria Kazi as innocent young couple Michael and Mandy.
Kiara Cole, Pristine Edge, Zerella Skies, Athena Anderson, Mazy Myers, Brad Newman, Rob Carpenter, Rusty Nails and Frank Bukkwyd round out the cast.
“The script originally read like a quaint Doris Day/Rock Hudson romantic comedy, but that was before Will locked himself in a dark room and binged on Hitchcock and Blumhouse scary movies,” said a rep.
“Well, it’s not exactly a Doris Day romcom anymore,” Ryder quipped.
Soon to marry his college sweetheart, Michael is offered a cash bonus to beta-test his company's new "home helper" AI device. The naive software engineer in training figures he has nothing to lose and could use the extra money. But when the helpful humanoid robot turns into a nightmare, Michael and Mandy become desperate to figure out a way to stop the out-of-control machine that has “fallen in love” with him — and into a deep hatred for her.
"We absolutely loved the story when we first read it," noted Adam & Eve Pictures head of production Rachel V.
"Even with this being a thriller featuring artificial intelligence, there is still a very human element at the core, which makes this a beautiful love story, I think," she said.
“A love story with blood, knives and sheer terror,” added Ryder, who called the project “a fantastic collaboration with my buddies Deanzy and Frank Bukkwyd.”
“Artificial Heart” will be released later this year by Adam & Eve Pictures.