Millie Bobby Brown is trading in one set of famous directing brothers for another. The Stranger Things actress will star in The Electric State, with Joe and Anthony Russo directing. Additionally, more cast have been announced to join this star-studded film, including Michelle Yeoh and Stanley Tucci. Based on the illustrated sci-fi story by Simon Stålenhag, The Electric State follows a girl and her toy robot on a journey through a bleak(er), futuristic US and the trailer starring Millie Bobby Brown is here.
Nearly two years after the announcement, we finally have our first look photos of The Electric State, which feature a blond-haired Millie Bobby Brown and robots.
Here’s the synopsis for The Electric State book:
In late 1997, a runaway teenager and her small yellow toy robot travel west through a strange American landscape where the ruins of gigantic battle drones litter the countryside, along with the discarded trash of a high-tech consumerist society addicted to a virtual-reality system. As they approach the edge of the continent, the world outside the car window seems to unravel at an ever faster pace, as if somewhere beyond the horizon, the hollow core of civilization has finally caved in.
Joining Brown in the cast is a whole slew of famous names. We’ll see Michelle Yeoh, Stanley Tucci, Jason Alexander, Brian Cox, and Jenny Slate in The Electric State, per Deadline. According to the publication, Chris Pratt will also star in the movie. As will Giancarlo Esposito, Ke Huy Quan, Anthony Mackie, and Billy Bob Thornton who have signed on for voice acting roles. Details on the characters these actors will play are slim overall.
Alongside the Russos, we’ll also see a pair of very familiar names behind the scenes. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who worked with the brothers on several Marvel movies and The Gray Man, are behind the script.
It’s quite the Netflix crossover, seeing the Russos and Brown collaborate for the streaming platform. In addition to starring in one of the streaming platform’s biggest hits, Brown also leads the Enola Holmes films, produced by Legendary, for Netflix. And the Russo brothers’ teamed with Netflix for The Gray Man, which releases on July 15. That film, with a $200 million dollar budget, is currently Netflix’s most expensive film. But it may have some competition in The Electric State. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the upcoming film boasts a staggering budget—beyond The Gray Man‘s. Apparently Netflix scooped up The Electric State after Universal Pictures let it go over the hefty price tag.
It’s interesting to see Netflix taking on a very expensive project. Especially given the company’s very, very tumultuous year in 2022. But with Brown and the Russos involved, it certainly looks like a solid bet for the streaming platform. This film will release sometime in 2025.
Originally published on November 2, 2022 with original reporting by Meaghan Kirby.