Netflix has released the final trailer for The Electric State, the latest film from Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo. Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt lead the cast. Take a look at the trailer above and learn more below.
A Dystopian Road Trip
Based on Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 graphic novel, the film presents an alternate version of the 1990s—one where a war between humans and robots has left the world in ruins. At the centre of the story is Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), a young woman travelling across a decayed America with a small yellow robot and a smuggler named Keats (Chris Pratt). Her goal: finding her younger brother. Along the way, she crosses paths with eccentric figures and discovers a larger mechanical conspiracy lurking beneath the surface.
For the Russos, the film taps into a familiar storytelling tradition. “The story felt like a fairy tale to us,” Anthony Russo said to Netflix site Tudum. “We really wanted to play into those very elemental aspects of a fairy tale.” Joe Russo added, “We grew up on a steady diet of science-fiction and fantasy. And so our brains are always [there]. Our creative ethos is always attracted to these big, fantastical ideas that can present really interesting themes but also be highly entertaining at the same time.”
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Expanding the World of The Electric State
Stålenhag’s original work is known for its haunting, retro-futuristic imagery, and the film aims to bring that vision to life while taking creative liberties. “I’m blown away by the movie,” Stålenhag said. “It was an amazing experience watching things that I have drawn come to life this way. What resonated most with me was the emotional core of the movie, which is the need for family.”
While the adaptation takes a broader approach to the world, the author was involved in discussions during development. “They asked me questions about the timeline and backstory, but it’s their work,” he said. “They’re the best in the world at what they do, and to see them work on a project that comes from me, it’s beyond satisfying, surreal. I am so positively surprised by the end result.”
A Large Cast and Russo Collaborators
The film features a sizeable ensemble, including Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once), Stanley Tucci (The Hunger Games), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Woody Harrelson (Zombieland), and Anthony Mackie (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), among others. Several cast members have previously worked with the Russos, including Pratt and Mackie.
“We gravitate to ensemble storytelling,” said Anthony Russo. “Maybe it’s because we come from a large extended Italian-American family. No matter how small a role is, we look at that character as having a very important part in the storytelling, and we like to look at it from that character’s point of view.”
The Electric State will be available to stream on Netflix from March 14th.
