Lee Weathers, a risk-management specialist for the genetic-engineering firm SynSect, travels to a rural facility where the L-9 project is under way, the creation of Morgan, an artificial being built from synthetic DNA and nanotechnology. Morgan matures at an astonishing pace: at only five years old she has the development of a teenager, which has forced the team to keep her confined. As a psychologist assesses her, tension rises between Weathers and the scientists, who hold very different views about what Morgan is and what she might become.

How it was made

Seth Owen's script appeared on the 2014 Black List, an annual survey of popular unproduced screenplays. Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions was set to produce, and his son Luke Scott made his feature directing debut. Kate Mara was announced as the lead in March 2015, and Anya Taylor-Joy was cast as Morgan, alongside Paul Giamatti and Toby Jones. Principal photography began on May 26, 2015, in Northern Ireland.

Reception and legacy

The film received mixed reviews. It holds a 38 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its premise but faulting it for failing to develop its ideas and leaning on action instead. Released in the United States on September 2, 2016, by 20th Century Fox, it earned about 8.8 million dollars worldwide, a modest result that reflected its limited commercial impact.

Stills

Trailer

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Trivia

A highly rated script

Seth Owen's screenplay appeared on the 2014 Black List, which collects unproduced scripts admired by industry professionals.

Other names for the role

Dakota Johnson, Claire Holt, Lena Dunham and Carice van Houten were considered for the role of Lee Weathers before Kate Mara was cast.

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