Episode 508: In The Seats With....April Mullen and 'Simulant'

Science-Fiction has a habit of sparking conversation...On this very special episode we're diving into our favourite genre that is pulling conversation starters from the modern headlines and scary new technological advantages.  In theatres now, it's time for 'Simulant'.After a fatal car crash, Faye (Jordana Brewster) now widowed, activates her late husband’s Simulant Evan (Robbie Amell), an exact android replica programmed with his memories.  Faye can’t seem to bring herself to love Sim Evan and doesn’t have the heart to deactivate him either.  Instead, she accepts the help of a brilliant programmer Casey (Simu Liu) who illegally hides Evan from authorities.  Casey unmasters Evan, helping him gain consciousness and making him more human. Evan is determined to win his wife’s heart back, but first must work with Casey to avoid capture by government agent Kessler (Sam Worthington), who oversees Simulant Compliance and the deactivation of dangerous and sentient Sims. While there are some obvious similarities in the genre with films like Blade Runner what Simulant does is highlight the ethical complexities that come into play with artificial intelligence and given the rises of Chat GPT in the pop culture ethos it feels like it's something that we just need to be more and more aware of.We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director April Mullen about taking on this project, what science fiction as a genre allows to storytellers like her and so very much more....Simulant is in theatres now....