THE ELECTRIC STATE: THE RUSSO BROTHERS’ BOLD, BREATHTAKING RETURN TO BLOCKBUSTER SCI-FI
The Russo brothers are back, and they’re taking us on a ride like never before. Their latest film, The Electric State, premiering March 14 on Netflix, is a dazzling spectacle of heart, high-octane adventure, and an eerie, thought-provoking look at humanity’s relationship with technology. But here’s the real kicker—it’s nothing like their previous work. Forget the Avengers. This is an entirely different beast.
CLEVELAND ROOTS, GLOBAL AMBITION
Eagle-eyed fans will spot a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment at the start of the film—a Plain Dealer newspaper headline announcing the war against robots. It’s a subtle yet powerful nod to the Russos’ Cleveland upbringing, a city that shaped their relentless work ethic.
“We grew up with a real work ethic and that kind of tough-nosed Cleveland attitude,” Joe Russo said. “That’s probably helped us more than anything in the business, that stick-to-itiveness.”
That spirit fuels The Electric State, a post-apocalyptic epic that blends Spielbergian wonder with cyberpunk dystopia. It’s based on Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel and takes place after a brutal robot rebellion, where machines, tired of their servitude, fought for freedom—only to lose. Humanity won, but at a cost: people are now hopelessly addicted to Neurocasters, VR-like helmets that let them escape into a digital dreamworld, courtesy of the sinister Sentre Technologies, led by Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci). And the remaining robots? They’ve been imprisoned in an internment camp, cast away like yesterday’s trash.
A JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN
At the heart of this spectacle is Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), an orphaned teenager who stumbles upon a mysterious Kid Cosmos robot, the beloved cartoon character of her younger brother, Christopher. When the bot hints that Christopher, presumed dead, may still be alive, Michelle embarks on a desperate quest to find him. But this isn’t a solo mission. She’s joined by a grizzled ex-soldier (Chris Pratt) and his snarky, shape-shifting robot sidekick (Anthony Mackie), who guide her through the Robot Exclusion Zone—aka “The Ex”, a wasteland where machine outcasts fight for survival.
This journey isn’t just about survival—it’s about rediscovering humanity in a world that’s lost it. And that’s where The Electric State shines. Unlike most dystopian films where machines are the enemy, this one flips the script. The robots Michelle encounters aren’t cold, calculating killers. They’re broken, abandoned, and struggling—just like humans. There’s a whimsical yet melancholic charm in characters like Mr. Peanut (Woody Harrelson), Penny Pal (Jenny Slate), and PopFly (Brian Cox), a baseball-pitching machine with more heart than most humans.
“They’re the opposite of ‘The Terminator,’” Anthony Russo explains. “They represent something innocent and pure—ironically, more human than the actual people in this world.”
THE DARK SIDE OF TECHNOLOGY
But where there’s hope, there’s also danger. Michelle faces terrifying threats, including Colonel Bradbury (Giancarlo Esposito), a ruthless robot hunter, and her own foster father, Leo (Jason Alexander), whose mind is completely lost to the Neurocaster. As the story unfolds, the film forces us to confront the unsettling reality of modern tech obsession—how we’re all slowly slipping into a digital prison of our own making.
“It’s an incredibly relevant issue,” Anthony adds. “Young people especially are struggling with their relationship with technology. We wanted to explore that in a way that felt urgent and deeply personal.”
A VISUAL MASTERPIECE WITH MARVEL-LEVEL AMBITION
Visually, The Electric State is breathtaking. The Russos have crafted a world that feels both nostalgic and futuristic, grounded yet dreamlike. It’s a fully realized alternate 1990s, where neon billboards flicker over desolate highways, abandoned suburbs hide dark secrets, and the ruins of war tell stories of a battle that changed everything.
“This is as big of a CG movie as we’ve ever made,” Joe admits. “Directing a film like this is like conducting a symphony—you have to balance the digital performances with real-world emotion, and that’s no easy task.”
The film culminates in a jaw-dropping battle sequence that might just rival anything the Russos have done before. Yes, even Endgame. It’s a bold statement, but if anyone can deliver, it’s these two.
THE RUSSO BROTHERS: BACK TO MARVEL?
And just when you thought this was their ultimate passion project, guess what? They’re heading back to the MCU. The duo has confirmed that their next big move is Avengers: Doomsday, marking their return to the franchise that made them Hollywood titans.
“We weren’t planning to come back,” Joe confesses. “But the story we found was too good to pass up.”
Does this mean The Electric State is just a detour before they dive back into superhero chaos? Or is it a signal that the Russos are once again ready to redefine blockbuster storytelling? Either way, one thing is clear:
The Electric State isn’t just a movie—it’s a statement. A thrilling, thought-provoking, visually stunning sci-fi spectacle that challenges everything we think we know about the future. Buckle up. This ride is one you won’t forget.
