The Electric State is an upcoming American science fiction adventure comedy-drama film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, loosely based on the 2018 graphic novel of the same name by Simon Stålenhag. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito and Stanley Tucci.
| The Electric State | |
|---|---|
 Teaser poster | |
| Directed by | Anthony Russo Joe Russo |
| Screenplay by | Christopher Markus Stephen McFeely |
| Based on | The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Stephen F. Windon |
| Edited by | Jeffrey Ford |
| Music by | Alan Silvestri |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $320 million[1] |
The Electric State is scheduled to be released by Netflix on March 14, 2025.
Premise
editSet in an alternate 1994, a young girl is approached by a robot who claims to know her missing brother, and with it, she sets out to find him.
Cast
edit- Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle
- Chris Pratt as Keats
- Ke Huy Quan as Dr. Amherst
- Stanley Tucci as Ethan Skate
- Woody Norman as Christopher, Michelle's brother
- Martin Klebba as Herman
- Giancarlo Esposito as Colonel Marshall Bradbury
Voices
edit- Jason Alexander
- Woody Harrelson as Mr. Peanut
- Anthony Mackie as Herman
- Brian Cox as Popfly
- Jenny Slate as Penny Pal
- Billy Bob Thornton
- Alan Tudyk as Cosmo
Production
editThe film was first announced in December 2017, when Anthony and Joe Russo acquired the rights to the graphic novel. They were set as producers, with Andy Muschietti in negotiations to direct. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely were set to write the screenplay.[2] In December 2020, Universal Pictures won the distribution rights to the film, with the Russos now directing and Muschietti remaining as an executive producer on the project via his new production company. Millie Bobby Brown was slated to star, with production set to begin as soon as the Russos completed The Gray Man (2022) and Brown concluded filming for season four of Stranger Things.[3]
In June 2022, it was reported that the film might have its distribution rights transferred to Netflix, as Universal was no longer planning to give the film a theatrical release. Later that month, it was confirmed that Netflix would be distributing the film, with Chris Pratt in talks to star alongside Brown.[4] Pratt would be confirmed in August, with Michelle Yeoh, Stanley Tucci, Jason Alexander, Brian Cox and Jenny Slate joining the cast. Cox and Slate were reported to be voicing characters in the film.[5] In October, Woody Norman was added to the cast.[6] In November, Giancarlo Esposito was cast in the film as the voice of Marshall, a menacing robotic drone.[7] Anthony Mackie and Billy Bob Thornton also joined the cast. Ke Huy Quan, Yeoh's co-star in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), had to replace her after she left the project due to scheduling conflicts.[8] In October 2024, it was reported that Woody Harrelson and Alan Tudyk has joined the cast as the voices of two of the robot characters.[9]
Principal photography began in October 2022 in Atlanta, under the working title Stormwind.[10] On November 4, 2022, film production was temporarily paused after a crew member working on the film died in a car crash off-set.[11] Filming officially wrapped in early February 2023.[12] As of February 2024[update], reshoots had occurred from March 20 to April 5.[13][needs update] The score was composed by Alan Silvestri, marking the third collaboration between Silvestri and the Russo Brothers, following their work on Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.[14]
Marketing
editThe first official images and a plot summary of the film were released by Netflix on October 1, 2024.[15] Dais Johnston of Inverse expressed concerns that these photos were confirmation that the film would seemingly be unfaithful to the original book since it showcased a visual style that involved "muddy color-grading" compared to the original artwork from Stålenhag.[16]
Netflix eventually released a teaser trailer on October 17, 2024, during New York Comic Con.[17] It was also confirmed that the film would largely diverge from the original source material in the hopes of telling its own original story, which received a negative response by fans that hoped for a direct adaptation.[18]
These major plot changes were explained at the film's panel, which involved Anthony Russo stating that they did find the original material as "fascinating" and compared their experience of adapting it as similar to the Marvel films. But he also stated that it was difficult for them to understand the story and felt that the world wasn't shown enough in the graphic novel, which caused the idea of developing it into a two-hour film as challenging. This led to them using the artwork as inspiration to make an entirely new story that featured the usage of 1990s aesthetics and the plot addition of robotic animatronics developing artificial intelligence, which involved them campaigning for equal rights in a retro-futuristic society.[19]
Release
editThe Electric State is set for release by Netflix on March 14, 2025.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Belloni, Matthew (May 10, 2024). "What I'm Hearing: Netflix's Pay War, More Apple & Cannes Optics". Puck. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 14, 2017). "Russo Brothers Win Sci-Fi Novel The Electric State For It Team Andy & Barbara Muschietti". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (December 18, 2020). "Universal Lands AGBO's Adaptation Of The Electric State With Millie Bobby Brown Starring, The Russo Brothers Directing And Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely Writing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ Kit, Borys (June 29, 2022). "Russo Bros., Millie Bobby Brown and Netflix Reteam for 'The Electric State'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (August 11, 2022). "Michelle Yeoh, Stanley Tucci, Jason Alexander, Brian Cox And Jenny Slate Round Out Cast Of The Russo Brothers Next Film At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (October 24, 2022). "Never Have I Evers Rushi Kota Boards Sony's Dumb Money; Russo Brother's Netflix Pic The Electric State Adds C'mon C'mon Breakout Woody Norman". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
- ^ B. Vary, Adam (November 2, 2022). "The Russo Brothers Assemble: Inside AGBO, Their $1 Billion Studio and When They Might Return to Marvel". Variety. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Vary, Adam B. (November 2, 2022). "Giancarlo Esposito, Ke Huy Quan, Anthony Mackie, Billy Bob Thornton Join the Russo Brothers' The Electric State for Netflix (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Breznican, Anthony (October 1, 2024). "Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt Face a Robot Uprising in The Electric State". Vanity Fair.
- ^ "Stormwind Production List". Film & Television Industry Alliance. September 19, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ Robb, David (November 4, 2022). "'The Electric State' Crew Member Killed In Off-Set Car Crash; Production On Netflix Film Paused". Deadline. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ Mantilla, Ryan Louis (February 11, 2023). "'The Electric State': Millie Bobby Brown-led Sci-Fi Film Wraps Filming". Collider. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ "Production Weekly – Issue 1390 – Thursday, February 22, 2024 / 187 Listings – 44 Pages". Production Weekly. February 29, 2024. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ Murray, Emily (April 30, 2024). "The composer behind Marvel's Avengers: Endgame teases a return to the MCU". GamesRadar. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ "Netflix Just Revealed Our First Look at Its Massive New Sci-Fi Movie". Inverse. October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ "Netflix's Epic New Sci-Fi Movie Already Has One Huge Problem". Inverse. October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Zee, Michaela (October 17, 2024). "'The Electric State' Trailer: Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt Go to War Against Robots in the Russo Brothers' Netflix Movie". Variety. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Lambie, Ryan (October 18, 2024). "The Electric State on Netflix | When is an adaptation not an adaptation?". Film Stories. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ White, Abbey (October 17, 2024). "Chris Pratt Was "Moved to Tears" Reading 'The Electric State' Script". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (October 17, 2024). "Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown Traverse a Robot-Filled Post-Apocalypse in First Trailer for Netflix's The Electric State". TheWrap. Retrieved October 17, 2024.