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The visual effects, largely created by the legendary New Zealand-based company Weta Digital, were a major point of focus. Director Derrickson wanted the alien technology to feel biologically based rather than purely mechanical. This led to the unique design of the sphere and the transformation sequence, which used a blend of CGI and practical effects. The iconic robot GORT was reimagined as a towering CGI creation, with his design inspired by the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey to be as simple, emotionless, and imposing as possible.
Klaatu teams up with a scientist named Helen Benson (played by Jennifer Connelly) and her stepson Jacob (played by Jaden Smith), who help him navigate human behavior and motivations. As Klaatu observes human behavior, he concludes that humanity is on the brink of self-destruction and decides to take drastic action.