Hot off the success of the Netflix movieEnola Holmes, Millie Bobby Brownhas signed on to executive produce and star in a new fantasy film titledDamselfor the streamer, Collider has learned.
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo(28 Weeks Later) will direct from a script byDan Mazeau(Wrath of the Titans), and the film will be produced byJoe RothandJeff Kirschenbaum. Brown will executive produce under her PCMA Productions banner along withZack Roth,Chris CastaldiandMazeau. A source pegs the budget at around $60-$70 million.
Netflix is keeping the official synopsis under wraps, but sources say the story follows a young princess who is married off to a rival kingdom and immediately finds herself in danger when it’s revealed that her new home has a nasty little secret — during the harvest season, the kingdom sacrifices their princesses to a hungry dragon.
Brown will play Princess Elodi, whose innocence gives way to a fierce warrior spirit when she finds herself fighting a dragon that’s out to kill her. The actress is no stranger to fighting mythical creatures, having made a name for herself as the powerful Eleven onStranger Things.
Since her breakout turn on that supernatural sci-fi series, Brown has starred inGodzilla: King of the Monsters, and she’ll return for next year’s follow-upGodzilla vs. Kong. Brown is also attached to star in Universal’s coming-of-age dramaThe Thing About Jellyfishfrom producerReese Witherspoon.
But don’t let all those major studio credits fool you. Netflix has made it a priority to stay in business with Brown, who is riding high off the streamer’s original movieEnola Holmes, which seems like a potential franchise to me, though a sequel has yet to be officially announced. Brown is also set to star in the thrillerThe Girls I’ve Been, which likeEnola Holmes, she will also produce for Netflix along with the cancer dramaA Time Lost.It’s unclear whether she’ll star in the latter film, which is being written byAnna Klassen.
Fresnadillo is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker who broke out with the 2001 fantasy dramaIntactofeaturingMax von Sydowbefore landing the high-profile28 Days Latersequel28 Weeks Later.His last directorial effort was the 2011 fantasy horror-thrillerIntrudersstarringClive Owen, soDamselcertainly represents a comeback of sorts, though Fresnadillo has also been busy developing a live-actionSword and the Stonemovie for Disney+.
