Time, Memory, and Identity Collide in Hartley’s Boldest Sci-Fi Role Yet
Justin Hartley is no stranger to complex characters, but his upcoming role in the cerebral sci-fi thriller Echo Divide could be his most daring performance yet. Directed by Chloe Renner, a breakout indie auteur celebrated for her surreal visual language and psychologically layered storytelling, Echo Divide explores a not-so-distant future where personal memory can be rewritten by corporate algorithms.
Hartley stars as Elias Burke, a former tech executive who once helped build the very system now threatening to erase human individuality. Haunted by guilt and increasingly uncertain of his own past, Burke becomes a fugitive determined to take down Memorix—a tech conglomerate that implants customized memories to optimize productivity and suppress trauma.
The film, co-starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jeremy Strong, and Tzi Ma, centers around a rogue underground network called The Echo, who seek to liberate humanity from memory manipulation. Burke, once a darling of Silicon Valley, must come to terms with the devastation his innovations have caused, even as he becomes increasingly unsure of what parts of his life are real.
In a radical twist, Hartley will portray two timelines of the same character—one before memory erasure, and one after. The dual roles required him to explore a fractured identity and deliver two distinct psychological portraits. According to early press notes, his character’s arc involves confronting a digitized version of himself that now functions as a virtual consultant to the very empire he tries to destroy.
“We are all the sum of what we remember,” Hartley says in an interview with The Wrap. “But what if someone else controls the sum? That’s what this film is asking. And it’s terrifying.”
Produced by A24 and distributed by Sony Pictures, Echo Divide has already drawn comparisons to Blade Runner 2049, Inception, and Ex Machina. Chloe Renner, known for her psychological indie hit Fracturelight, brings a cerebral but emotionally resonant perspective. She noted, “Justin brings a soulful gravity to the film. He plays a man unraveling, and in doing so, helps us question what it means to know oneself at all.”
The film will feature a haunting electronic score by Mica Levi and groundbreaking cinematography by Bradford Young (Arrival, Selma). Shot in Iceland and urban Japan, Echo Divide offers a contrast between vast natural emptiness and hyper-digitized cityscapes. Visual effects are used sparingly, with a focus on immersive production design and eerie practical sets.
With awards season buzz already swirling, Echo Divide will debut at Sundance 2027 before heading to international festivals. If early screenings match expectations, this film may redefine Hartley’s trajectory, placing him among the rare class of actors who can command both blockbuster franchises and arthouse acclaim.
