Der renommierte Wissenschaftler Dr. Will Caster arbeitet gemeinsam mit seiner Frau Evelyn auf dem Gebiet der technologischen Singularität. Durch die Erschaffung eines Computersystems, dessen komplexe Verschaltungen wie menschliche Gehirne funktionieren, streben sie die Transzendenz künstlicher Intelligenz an. Ein technologischer Quantensprung, der ihnen zwar viel Lob einbringt, sie jedoch auch zur Zielscheibe von fanatischen Technik-Skeptikern macht. Bei einem Überfall auf das Labor wird Will tödlich verletzt. Hin und her gerissen zwischen Liebe und Forscherdrang führt Evelyn eine drastische Maßnahme durch: Gemeinsam mit dem Forscher Max Waters, einem engen Freund und Kollegen ihres Mannes, verbindet sie Wills unversehrtes Gehirn mit dem Computersystem und überträgt seine Informationen auf den Rechner. Ein Experiment mit unvorhersehbaren Folgen….
| Johnny Depp | Will Caster |
| Rebecca Hall | Evelyn Caster |
| Paul Bettany | Max Waters |
| Cillian Murphy | Agent Buchanan |
| Kate Mara | Bree |
| Cole Hauser | Colonel Stevens |
| Morgan Freeman | Joseph Tagger |
| Clifton Collins Jr. | Martín |
| Cory Hardrict | Joel Edmund |
| Falk Hentschel | Bob |
| Josh Stewart | Paul |
| Luce Rains | Roger |
| Fernando Chien | Heng |
| Steven Liu | Chiu |
| Xander Berkeley | Dr. Thomas Casey |
| Lukas Haas | James Thomas |
| Wallace Langham | Dr. Strauss |
| James Burnett | Meth Head #1 |
| Sam Quinn | Meth Head #2 |
| Sam Webb | Red Hooded Teenager |
| Chris Gartin | Tech Conference Coordinator (as Christopher Gartin) |
| Olivia Taylor Dudley | Groupie (as Olivia Dudley) |
| Abe Bueno Jallad | RIFT Hacker (as Abraham Jallad) |
| Lauren Sivan | Reporter |
| Laramie Cooley | BDC Greeter |
| Nancy Jeris | BDC Servant |
| Colin Jones | FBI Agent |
| Dylan Kenin | FBI Agent |
| Chad Brummett | Solar Field Worker |
| Antonio Del Prete | Will In Hybrid |
| Jon Kristian Moore | Will In Hybrid |
| John Trejo | Special Forces on Roof |
| Matthew J. Berkovitz | Campus Security |
| Darren P. Leis | Medical Lab Tech (as Darren Patrick Leis) |
| Donna Brown | RIFT Surgeon (as Donna D. Brown) |
| Richard Daniel Williams | RIFT Surgeon |
| Zack Carpenter | RIFT Medical Tech (as Zackeriah Carpenter) |
| Christina Lancellotti | RIFT Medical Tech |
| Kristen Rakes | Computer Programmer |
| Seth Adkins | Miserable Student |
| Rick Anglada | FBI Agent (uncredited) |
| Vernon Bradley | National Guard (uncredited) |
| Nathan Brimmer | Construction Worker (uncredited) |
| Kurt Capalbo | Sick Pilgrim (uncredited) |
| Jeremie Dalaba | Solar Field Hybrid (uncredited) |
| Ethan Dennis | Sick Kid (uncredited) |
| Roberto Earlywine | Crippled guy (uncredited) |
| Michael Fletcher | Spec Ops Soldier (uncredited) |
| Billy Fuessel | Hybrid (uncredited) |
| Christopher W. Garcia | RIFT Child (uncredited) |
| Nicholas Gibeault | Audience Member (uncredited) |
| Stephen M. Hardin | MIT Programmer (uncredited) |
| Jessica Stotz Harrell | Business Woman (uncredited) |
| Charlie Henn | Lab Tech (uncredited) |
| Timothy Holmes | Hybrid (uncredited) |
| Albert Fry Jr. | Bartender (uncredited) |
| Dennis Keiffer | Hybrid Soldier (uncredited) |
| Steve Larese | Businessman (uncredited) |
| Chester Laurence | Bakery Patron (uncredited) |
| Charles Moss | Science Engineer Student (uncredited) |
| Tailor Murray | Towns Person (uncredited) |
| Elon Musk | Himself (uncredited) |
| Martin Palmer | Militant RIFT (uncredited) |
| Akshay Patel | James (uncredited) |
| Maxine Paul | Riftie (uncredited) |
| Jaime Powers | Hybrid Townsman (uncredited) |
| Lyn Quinn | Tech Conference Attendee (uncredited) |
| John Quintana | Scott (uncredited) |
| Michael Rosinsky | Neurobiologist (uncredited) |
| Shaun Rylee | Neurobiologist (uncredited) |
| Damon Somers | Street Walker (uncredited) |
| Louise Stange-Wahl | Hybrid / Townsperson (uncredited) |
| Transcendence | Rift Wife (uncredited) |
| Kendra Tuthill | Townswoman (uncredited) |
| Taylor Wagenman | RIFT Child (uncredited) |
| Jermaine Washington | Special OPS #3 (uncredited) |
| Mychael Danna | Composer |
