Joe and Anthony Russohave been developingThe Electric Stateunder their AGBO banner for several years now, but the brothers had only planned to produce the sci-fi movie. Now, with would-be directorAndy Muschiettifocused on makingThe Flashmovie for Warner Bros., the Russos have signed on to direct the film, which will star none other thanMillie Bobby BrownofStranger Thingsfame.
Deadline broke the news, reporting that Universal acquired the red-hot project following a major bidding war, largely by committing to a theatrical release. Seeing as production won’t start until late 2021 or early 2022, movie theaters will have hopefully rebounded by the timeThe Electric Stateis ready for release.
Based on the graphic novel byTales from the LoopauthorSimon Stålenhag,The Electric Stateis set in an alternate future where human and robots live together in relative harmony and a teenage girl (Brown) realizes that her sweet-but-strange new robot friend has actually been sent to her by her missing brother. She and the robot set out to find the boy, uncovering a grand conspiracy in the process.
AGBO’sChristopher MarkusandStephen McFeelywill write the script, having previously worked with the Russos onCaptain America: Winter SoldierandCaptain America: Civil Waras well asAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame.They also wrote the script for the Russos' next movie,The Gray ManstarringRyan GoslingandChris Evans.
The Russos will produceThe Electric Statealongside AGBO’sMike Larocca, and they’ll be joined by Andy andBarbara Muschietti. Meanwhile,Russell AckermanandJohn Schoenfelderwill serve as executive producers on the project, which studios and streamers salivating when it hit the open market earlier this week.
Universal plans to fast-trackThe Electric State, though the studio will have to remain patient, as the Russos start filmingThe Gray Mannext month in Long Beach, while Brown will no doubt have to shoot a new season ofStranger Things.
“We’re thrilled to have this deal with Universal who has committed to a theatrical release ofElectric State,” the Russos told Deadline, which also spoke to the screenwriters. “This is incredible news for us as filmmakers, and for audiences around the world who want an opportunity to experience films in theaters again. This is also a positive sign that, as vaccines become available, the theatrical market is returning.”
“We’d have Joe and Anthony direct everything that we write and were excited the timing worked out for them to come on as directors,” added McFeely. “What’s nice about this is the themes ofElectric Statesyncs up with their interests in technology and feels like the perfect property for them.”
“This is a very human story about a teenage girl with all the powers of a teenage girl and nothing more,” explained Markus. “Another thing we are really proud of when it comes to this story is all the major characters, barring one supporting character, are women which is super exciting to be involved in.”
AGBO’s recent productions include21 Bridges, the Netflix moviesExtractionandMosul, and the eerie genre movieRelic, while the opioid dramaCherrystarringTom Hollandwill debut on Apple TV+ in Marchfollowing a limited run in select theaters.
Brown is coming off the success of her Netflix movieEnola Holmes, and in addition to Season 4 ofStranger Things, she’ll soon be seen inAdam Wingard’s monster mash-upGodzilla vs. Kong, which isexpected to premiereon HBO Max along with the rest of WB’s 2021 slate. She’ll alsobattle a dragonin the Netflix movieDamselfrom28 Weeks LaterdirectorJuan Carlos Fresnadillo.
