The directors of the highest-grossing movie of all time are joining forces with one of Hollywood’s most promising young actresses for a new sci-fi project. According to Deadline, Universal has just secured the rights to The Electric State, based on the book by Simon Stålenhag. Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown is headlining the film, with Avengers: Endgame’s Joe and Anthony Russo directing.
Stålenhag published The Electric State (described as a “narrative art book”) in 2018 after financing it through Kickstarter. Set in an alternate America in 1997, the story centers on a teenage girl who receives a “strange but sweet” robot from her missing brother. The girl and the robot then set out to find her brother, travelling across a landscape that’s littered with the remains of “gigantic battle drones” as well as “the discarded trash of a high-tech consumerist society” obsessed with a virtual-reality program. Throughout their journey, the unlikely pair encounter other robots and become entangled in a mysterious conspiracy.
Typically, Stålenhag’s works are known for showcasing retro-futuristic themes. One of his previous books, Tales from the Loop, was turned into an Amazon Prime series earlier this year.
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The Russo brothers first acquired the rights to The Electric State through their AGBO banner in 2017. They originally had their eye on Andy Muschietti to sit in the director’s chair. But since he and his sister/producing partner, Barbara Muschietti, are concentrating on The Flash, the Russos are directing the movie themselves. They’ve also enlisted their longtime Marvel collaborators, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, to pen the script.
The Russos are gearing up to release their first post-Endgame film, Cherry, which is already generating awards season buzz. The movie stars Tom Holland and will premiere on Apple TV+ on February 26. Meanwhile, Brown is currently in Atlanta filming Stranger Things 4. Most recently, she starred in Netflix’s Enola Holmes and will also appear in next year’s Godzilla vs. Kong.
The Electric State is still without a release date.
Are you excited to see what Brown and the Russos come up with together? Let us know in the comments below!
Recommended Reading: The Electric State
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