Netflix's Atlas: Release date, cast, plot, and everything we know so far

Atlas is an upcoming Netflix movie that stars Jennifer Lopez in a titular character called Atlas Shepherd. This film is directed by Brad Peyton and promises to be a treat for science fiction enthusiasts. It features a star-studded cast including Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, and Mark Strong.

The film is a co-production of ASAP Entertainment, Safehouse Pictures, Nuyorican Productions, and Berlanti-Schechter Films, and is scheduled for release on Netflix on May 24, 2024.

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What is Atlas all about?

The film revolves around the protagonist, Atlas Shepherd. She is a data analyst with no-holds-barred skepticism of Artificial Intelligence, despite having to live in a world where so much is controlled by it.

This distrust is largely based on Atlas's personal history, as her father was one of the key players in the arrival of this technological era. Living a reclusive life, she is enlisted in a high-stakes mission to capture a rebellious robot. The robot named Harlan, created by Atlas's mother to protect humanity, suddenly goes rogue and starts attacking humans.

Atlas then joins forces with military officer Colonel Banks as they attempt to stop Harlan. However, when her plan backfires, she is forced to work with another AI, Smith (voiced by Gregory James Cohan). This marks her last-ditch effort to save humanity from the brink of extinction. The film delves into various themes, including trust, technology, and the intricacies of human-robot relationships.

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Release date and cast

The movie, Atlas, is set to premiere on Netflix on May 24, 2024, in the run-up to Memorial Day, thus making this the title that might ultimately come through with viewers this holiday weekend.

The film boasts an impressive cast:

• Jennifer Lopez plays Atlas Shepherd, a data analyst with a strong distrust of artificial intelligence.
• Simu Liu plays Harlan, a rebellious AI robot.
• Sterling K. Brown plays Colonel Banks, a trusted ally of Atlas during the mission.
• Mark Strong has been cast in an undisclosed role.
• Gregory James Cohan plays Smith, the voice of the AI program that helps Atlas.

Abraham Popoola, Lana Parrilla, Briella Guiza, Adia Smith-Eriksson, and Logan Hunt are also part of the cast ensemble.

Talking about the movie, Jennier Lopez told Netflix Tudum on April 23, 2024:

“I loved that this is a big sci-fi action movie, but at its core, it’s a story of friendship — and a love story, in a way. I always see everything as a love story, but this is a different kind of love between two beings who connect in disastrous circumstances, and teach each other how to be more human.”

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Everything else we know so far

This project is helmed by Brad Peyton, who is known for films like San Andreas and Rampage. The script is penned by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite. Greg Berlanti, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, and Joby Harold join the film as producers. The movie is based on an AI-ridden world of the future and is shot by cinematogrpaher, John Schwartzman. Some of his other works include superhits like Jurassic World and The Amazing Spider-Man.

The background music is composed by Andrew Lockington, who has previously worked on action films like Rampage and San Andreas. The movie was shot from August to November 2022 in locations like Los Angeles and Cupertino, California, and created a buzz even before Netflix released its trailer.

Netflix dropped the official movie trailer on April 23, 2024, giving a hint of some high-octane action with a complex story.

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For those whose favorite genre is sci-fi with angles like AI and the post-apocalyptic world, and who love seeing Jennifer Lopez on-screen, Atlas is a must-watch.