The Filmmaker’s Podcast #493: Producer Chuck Roven talks ‘Mercy’

Here’s the latest episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro-budget indie films to bigger-budget studio films and everything in between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dom Lenoir, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk about how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their filmmaking experiences from directors, writers, producers and screenwriters, to actors, cinematographers and distributors.

The Filmmaker’s Podcast #493: Oppenheimer, Mercy & The Dark Knight trilogy producer Chuck Roven: From humble beginnings to winning the Oscar

The reigning Academy Award winner for Best Picture joins the show! Legendary producer Charles “Chuck” Roven (Oppenheimer, The Dark Knight Trilogy) sits down with Giles Alderson to discuss his pulsing new sci-fi thriller, Mercy (starring Chris Pratt & Rebecca Ferguson). In this masterclass on producing, Chuck breaks down his unique career path from stuntman to the founder of Atlas Entertainment. He reveals how he packages massive films independently (like American Hustle and 12 Monkeys), the challenges of producing for visionary directors like Christopher Nolan and Timur Bekmambetov, and why he believes Mercy’s concept of an “AI Judge” is a terrifying glimpse into our future. We discuss:

• The Mercy Reunion: Bringing Chris Pratt and director Timur Bekmambetov back together 18 years after Wanted.
• The “Atlas” Model: How to develop and package blockbuster IP outside of the studio system.
• The Oppenheimer Journey: Lessons learned from producing the Best Picture winner and working with Cillian Murphy.
• Managing Visionaries: How to support directors like David O. Russell and Zack Snyder while protecting the budget.
• The Stuntman Roots: How his early days on Hawaii Five-O shaped his approach to action safety

Check out our review of Mercy right here.

Follow The Filmmakers Podcast on Twitter: @filmmakerspod | @gilesalderson and the official website