The Darkest Minds trailer finds teens with powers trying to change the world

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

If anything in this world is certain, it’s that A.) With enough research and development, we can genetically engineer pigs that can fly, and B.) All kids want superpowers. Having special abilities would be a dream come true for any young person, but for the teens in the new movie THE DARKEST MINDS, it means they must live in a nightmare. The first trailer for the movie finds four remarkable young people as they break free from their shackles and use their powers to fight back against their oppressors. I would’ve just used mine to fly to the moon but to each their own.

Here is the full plot synopsis:

When teens mysteriously develop powerful new abilities, they are declared a threat by the government and detained. Sixteen-year-old Ruby, one of the most powerful young people anyone has encountered, escapes her camp and joins a group of runaway teens seeking safe haven. Soon this newfound family realizes that, in a world in which the adults in power have betrayed them, running is not enough and they must wage a resistance, using their collective power to take back control of their future.

Actresses Mandy Moore and Gwendoline Christie are the big names in the movie, with young Amandla Stenberg leading the cast of teens. The movie marks the first live-action directorial effort for Jennifer Yuh Nelson, who directed the last two KUNG-FU PANDA films. On scripting duties is Chris Hodge (WAYWARD PINES), with Shawn Levy and Dan Levine producing.

Ultimately, the movie looks like a superpowered version of THE MAZE RUNNER, DIVERGENT, HUNGER GAMES and any of those other YA flicks. There was once a massive market for these kinds of movies that could spawn a franchise, but those quickly fell out of favor with audiences. I’m curious to see how this one plays, especially as it opens on the same day as the adorable-looking CHRISTOPHER ROBIN. Talking stuffed bears trump superpowered kids any day of the week.