Following an intense bidding war, Deadline brings word that Universal Pictures has successfully won the rights to the Russo Brothers’ forthcoming film adaptation of Simon Stålenhag graphic novel titled The Electric State with Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown officially signing on for the lead role. Given Brown and the directing duo’s packed schedule, the studio is reportedly aiming to start production between the end of 2021 or early 2022.
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First published in 2018, The Electric State novel is set in an alternative future where a teenage girl discovers a strange robot that was sent to her by her missing brother. She and the robot set out to find the brother in an imaginative world of humans mixing with all manner of robots, uncovering a grand conspiracy in the process.
Pick up a copy of the novel here!
The official book synopsis reads: “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.”
The film adaptation will be directed by Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo from a screenplay that will be written by Endgame scribes Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The Russo Brothers will also be serving as producers along with Mike Larocca through their AGBO banner. Andy and Barbara Muschietti are also producing with Russell Ackerman and John Schoenfelder set as executive producers.
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The Electric State film has been in development since 2017 was originally set to be developed by IT duo Andy and Barbara Muschietti with Andy Muschietti serving as the director. However, Andy Muschietti decided to give up his directorial duties on the project in order to shift his focus on Warner Bros.’ highly-anticipated Flash movie.
Millie Bobby Brown gained worldwide recognition for her breakthrough role as Eleven in Netflix’s hit sci-fi series Stranger Things which earned the young actress her first Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. This project is the latest addition to the 16-year-old actress’s long list of upcoming projects including: Stranger Things Season 4 and Godzilla vs. Kong as well as Netflix films: Damsel and The Girls I’ve Been with Jason Bateman also serving as a producer.
