Sci-fi fans listen up! The Russo brothers the guys behind those massive Avengers movie s are back with a brand new flick and it's hitting Netflix soon. It is called The Electric State and from what we are hearing it is going to be a visual feast packed with big ideas and some serious emotional punch. Get ready to dive into a world of robots virtual reality and a journey across a broken America.
From Cleveland to California: Russo Brothers Bring "The Electric State" Vision to Life on Netflix
Cleveland natives Joe and Anthony Russo haven't forgotten their roots. Keep an eye out in the opening of The Electric State and you might spot a familiar newspaper - The Plain Dealer making a cameo. It is a small nod to their hometown a place that Joe says gave them a "tough-nosed Cleveland attitude" and work ethic that has been key to their success.
This "Cleveland ethos" definitely came in handy while making The Electric State. Premiering on Netflix March 14th this movie is a huge undertaking. Based on the graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag it is filled with cutting-edge visual effects a compelling story and those big themes the Russo Brothers are known for tackling.
Robot Rebellion VR Addiction and a Sister's Quest: Unpacking The Electric State Plot
The movie drops us into an alternate 1990s after a robot war. Machines fought back against human exploitation and humanity won but not without consequences. People are now hooked on Neurocasters a VR-like tech from the shady Sentre Technologies run by Ethan Skate played by Stanley Tucci. These helmets trap people in a digital dream while drone versions of themselves handle the real world. Robots that survived the war? They're stuck in exclusion zones.
This is where Millie Bobby Brown's character Michelle comes in. She is an orphaned teen who gets a surprise visit from a Kid Cosmos robot a cartoon character her brother loved. Cosmo hints that her brother Christopher who everyone thought died in the war might actually be alive. Driven to find him Michelle teams up with a smuggler named Keats played by Chris Pratt and his wisecracking droid sidekick Herman voiced by Anthony Mackie. They head into "The Ex" the dangerous Robot Exclusion Zone in the American Southwest.
Anthony Russo explains "There’s something very emotionally powerful in this idea of a family that was separated by war where a sister is going on a quest through this broken landscape to find her brother who she hopes is still alive." It is not just action though the movie is diving into humanity's complicated relationship with technology especially relevant in today's world.
More Than Terminators: Meet the Robots of The Ex (Including Mr. Peanut!)
In "The Ex" Michelle and Keats meet a group of robot freedom fighters and these are not your typical scary robots. Think more Disneyland animatronics than Terminator. Among them are some quirky bots: Mr. Peanut bot voiced by Woody Harrelson a postal carrier android Penny Pal voiced by Jenny Slate and PopFly an old baseball pitching machine voiced by Brian Cox.
These robots aren't villains. As Anthony Russo points out "They’re the opposite of ‘The Terminator.’ There’s an element of human innocence in these robots ... That’s really what they represent in the movie.” They are fighting for freedom dignity and connection just like humans.
The real inhumanity might be in the human villains like Ethan Skate robot hunter Colonel Bradbury played by Giancarlo Esposito and Michelle's VR-addicted foster father Leo played by Jason Alexander. The cast is stacked with Colman Domingo and Ke Huy Quan also on board. Anthony Russo said gathering such a talented cast was "unbelievable even to us" and it gives them amazing storytelling possibilities.
Visual Spectacle and Heart: The Electric State is a Russo Brothers Original
Bringing Simon Stålenhag's unique art style and this post-apocalyptic 90s world to the screen was a massive visual effects job. Many characters are CG creations and the movie features a huge action-packed road trip and a spectacular battle sequence all inspired by Stålenhag's artwork.
Joe Russo calls it "as big of a CG movie as we’ve ever made" even bigger than their Marvel films. The challenge was making CG characters feel real and connect with the live-action actors and the audience. It took a huge team effort.
The result is something different from anything the Russo Brothers have done before. It is a visually stunning sci-fi adventure but also a cautionary tale about tech and what it means to be human. Joe Russo emphasizes "The most important theme in the movie is to stay connected to the people around you.” In a tech-driven world it's a message that really resonates.
More Than Just a Movie: The Electric State Universe Expands with Prequel Video Game
Want to dive deeper into The Electric State world? There is a prequel video game coming out just a few days after the movie on March 18th. It is called The Electric State: Kid Cosmo and it is a mobile puzzle adventure game available for Netflix subscribers on iOS and Android.
This game focuses on Michelle and her brother Chris before the movie's events. It is described as a "bite-sized adventure puzzle game" that explores their relationship over five years. Anthony Russo says the game will "expand upon the relationship that the lead characters have in the movie Michelle and her brother Chris" and explore parts of their story that the movie could not fully cover. It sounds like a great way to get even more immersed in The Electric State universe.
Russo Brothers Back to Marvel But Exploring New Worlds Too
The Electric State marks the end of a six-year break from Marvel for the Russo Brothers. During that time they worked on projects like Cherry and The Gray Man and built up their AGBO production company. But they are headed back to the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Joe Russo says they "weren’t anticipating coming back" to Marvel but a compelling story drew them in. He calls Marvel a "grand experiment" and "the opportunity was too good to pass up." However the Russos are also focused on creating original worlds and stories through AGBO. They are developing at least three large-scale transmedia projects aiming for "Star Wars" level universes but in different genres. This includes exploring new ways to tell stories using gaming and virtual experiences. So expect more exciting and innovative projects from the Russo Brothers beyond the MCU.
Key Things to Know About The Electric State:
- Netflix Release Date: March 14 2025
- Directors: Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers: Endgame Captain America: Winter Soldier)
- Starring: Millie Bobby Brown Chris Pratt Stanley Tucci Giancarlo Esposito Anthony Mackie (voice) and more.
- Based on: Graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag
- Plot: Teenage girl searches for her brother in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by VR and exiled robots.
- Themes: Technology addiction human connection family and freedom.
- Prequel Game: "The Electric State: Kid Cosmo" mobile puzzle adventure game launching March 18 on Netflix.