Take a look above at the official trailer that’s arrived for The Assessment, a dystopian sci-fi thriller starring Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, Himesh Patel, Charlotte Ritchie, and Minnie Driver.

A Parental Test in a Dystopian Future

Set in a world where resources are scarce and tightly controlled, The Assessment follows Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Patel), a couple chosen to undergo a rigorous test to determine their suitability as parents. Overseen by Virginia (Vikander), a cold and unreadable evaluator, the assessment takes place over seven days, pushing the couple to their physical, emotional, and psychological limits. As the challenges intensify, Mia and Aaryan are forced to confront their deepest insecurities, the cracks in their relationship, and the true nature of the test itself.

According to the official synopsis, The Assessment is “a mind-bending thriller that shines a light on the tangled complexities of human relationships; interrogating the ethics of a world where control is valued more highly than freedom, all with a wicked touch of dark humour.”

Director’s Personal Connection to the Story

Fleur Fortuné, the music video director (whose credits include music videos for Drake, M84, Travis Scott) making her feature directorial debut, drew inspiration from her own experiences with fertility struggles when shaping the film. “The day I decided to bring a child to this world, I had no idea what a journey I was about to begin,” she shared in her director’s statement. She described a long, emotionally and physically demanding process of trying to conceive, which led her to reflect deeply on why people choose to have children.

“For me, it all came back to that same question I was asking myself: why do they want a child? It was the film’s emotional core,” she explained. “It’s the reason Mia and Aaryan (Elizabeth and Himesh) would endure anything to pass the test and why Virginia (Alicia) would go far beyond sanity to make them fail.”

Working with a Strong Cast

Fortuné praised her cast for bringing depth and nuance to their roles. Of Olsen, she said, “For years I was thinking of Lizzie for Mia’s character. I knew she could be so real, generous and grounded, but in a very subtle way.” She described Vikander’s portrayal of Virginia as particularly striking, saying, “When I first met Alicia, I knew she would be amazing for the part when she confessed how scared she was to play the part. I already knew what she was capable of but I wanted her to go in some areas she or anyone had never been before.”

The film’s setting plays a crucial role in reinforcing its themes, with Fortuné explaining, “Building the world and interactions between Mia, Aaryan, and Virginia was a fascinating challenge because everything happens in one location: their home. This setting acts as a fitting metaphor for the world they inhabit.”

Release Date

The Assessment is set to hit U.S. cinemas on March 21st, followed by a digital release on April 8th.