The Creator: what you need to know about Gareth Edwards' sci-fi epic

Upcoming sci-fi epic The Creator paints a vivid picture of a futuristic war. With its blend of action, grand scale and topical themes, there's plenty to enjoy for both the popcorn crowd and those seeking something a bit deeper.

Here's what you need to know about the film.

What is the story of The Creator?

In the distant future, humanity has been decimated by a long-running war with autonomous artificial intelligence. Joshua, an ex-special forces operative who lost his wife in the conflict, is tasked with bringing the saga to a conclusion.

His mission: to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war. However, upon reaching his target, Joshua discovers it is a biomechanical child A.I. called Alfie, and he soon experiences a crisis of conscience.

Can Joshua go through with his plan and save humanity? And does this mean he'll condemn himself if he does?

Who directs The Creator?

The Creator is directed by Gareth Edwards who scored a low-budget, independent sci-fi hit with 2010's Monsters. This atmospheric drama impressively marries grandiose CGI effects with a road movie narrative as two strangers venture into a contaminated zone to locate the alien creatures that have changed the Earth.

Edwards famously created the movie's creatures on his laptop, belying any notion that sci-fi spectacle needs a big budget to be convincing and immersive. However, his Hollywood debut, Godzilla (2014), was certainly that, a dark and brooding reworking of the classic Toho Studios monster.

The film's sense of scale, particularly in relation to the title character and his monstrous adversaries, was matched with striking imagery including a HALO jump through a storm cloud. Despite mixed reviews, Godzilla was a sizeable box-office hit.

With his profile raised, Edwards then graduated to the realm of Star Wars. His subsequent movie, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), pitched itself as the Dirty Dozen in space, exploring the ill-fated rebels who hijacked the plans for the Death Star prior to the events of 1977's A New Hope.

The movie was praised for its darker tone, gritty ambition and strong performances including Felicity Jones, Diego Luna and Ben Mendelsohn. The film grossed more than $1 billion worldwide and was seen as the best Star Wars movie since The Empire Strikes Back, released in 1980.

Edwards now fuses his penchant for trenchant themes and visual awe in The Creator, a wholly original project that re-affirms the director's love for the sci-fi genre.

Who stars in The Creator?

John David Washington portrays the conflicted Joshua, fresh off his star-making roles in Christopher Nolan's Tenet and Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman.

He's backed by a diverse and talented supporting cast including Gemma Chan (Eternals) as Maya, Ken Watanabe (Inception) as Harun and Allison Janney (I, Tonya) as Howell.

The pivotal role of Alfie, the robotic child at the centre of the conflict, is played by screen newcomer Madeleine Yuna Voyles.

Does The Creator explore the role of A.I.?

Yes, watch the video clip below and discover how Gareth Edwards incorporated themes of sentient A.I. into the storyline.

What are the initial reactions to The Creator?

The Creator has generated positive early buzz, praised for its arresting visuals, scope and themes. In fact, it's being praised as one of 2023's best sci-fi films. Here's a selection of initial social media responses.

As you learn about the way #GarethEdwards made #TheCreator you’ll understand how it’s a revolution in sci-fi filmmaking. He used a camera you can buy at Best Buy and shot all around the world with a very small crew. In post he was able to add VFX to whatever they shot on set. The… pic.twitter.com/mlIZcuaqIa
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) September 19, 2023

#TheCreator is astonishingly good. Best film of the year and best sci-fi film in ages, in my opinion.

Gareth Edwards flips expectations really impressively for a visceral, touching, and creative story of humanity.

Genuinely loved it. You have to see this one. pic.twitter.com/2IH7YTeSFh
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) September 19, 2023

The soulfulness and spirituality of Gareth Edwards’ #TheCreator make every go-for-broke action set piece, every genuinely dazzling visual effect (by @ILMVFX and others), every gritty chase sequence resonate that much more. Beautifully designed and shot and richly rewarding. Go. pic.twitter.com/h0bFn3rjrf
— Drew Taylor (@DrewTailored) September 19, 2023

Though it pulls from identifiable inspirations, #TheCreator is 1 of the best original sci-fi epics in years. Massively entertaining, enthralling & profound on every level. Gareth Edwards constructs an immersive world & fills it with compelling characters. Absolutely radical. pic.twitter.com/fjAwuB0VtR
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) September 19, 2023

Is The Creator showing in premium formats at Cineworld?

Yes, you can experience The Creator in the expansive dimensions of IMAX, and also via the multi-sensory physical impact of 4DX, the 270-degree immersion of ScreenX and the enlarged screen dimensions of Superscreen.