As a child of the ’90s myself, I can hardly contain my excitement for “The Electric State”! The nostalgia-inducing props and production design elements, coupled with the directors’ homage to classic Amblin and Robert Zemeckis films, promise an electrifying trip down memory lane.
At New York Comic Con, a panel for the upcoming Netflix film The Electric State, presented by Anthony and Joe Russo, hinted at an exciting journey filled with intense action.
On Thursday, a showcase of the video material along with brainstorming sessions involving artists and actors such as Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown was shared with an enthusiastic audience at the Empire Stage. This presentation took place following the release of a fresh teaser trailer on the internet just hours prior.
The movie will be available on Netflix starting March 16, offering a fresh take inspired by Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel. This story revolves around a conflict between humans and intelligent machines that unfolds in the ’90s era.
The story unfolds around Michelle (Brown), a woman who possesses a charming yet enigmatic robot, as she embarks on a transcontinental journey alongside the unconventional wanderer Keats (Pratt). Their destination? A quest to locate her long-lost brother in a revamped America of the future, where tensions have subsided following a conflict between humans and artificial intelligence.
Joe humorously mentioned his current projects, particularly the two upcoming Avengers films, have left him feeling “tired.” He reminisced that he and Anthony started working on this project five years ago and were delighted to collaborate once more with some of their Endgame team members, including Pratt, Anthony Mackie, and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
Joe expressed great enthusiasm, stating that this project is truly close to his heart and they can’t wait to share it with the public. It’s an ambitious undertaking, featuring grand narratives they are eager to unfold,” (paraphrased).
Pratt revealed that originally, he was intending to take a break, but the opportunity to work with his past colleagues again and the compelling narrative drew him in completely.
Pratt stated that the film isn’t usually the type that becomes a large-scale, blockbuster-style production. Instead, it’s incredibly unique and takes a significant risk. He felt that this might be his final chance to star in a big-budget movie like this, so he seized the opportunity. The story is simply outstanding, and it moved him to tears just reading it.
Speaking about the method they used in this adaptation, Anthony compared Stålenhag’s graphic novel art to something “fascinating,” stating that the process was similar to adapting Marvel Comics characters for movies like “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame.
Anthony remarked, “We’ve examined the pictures and the narrative within the graphic novel he’s presenting. It’s quite complex, almost confusing to grasp. You get hints of it rather than a clear understanding.” He added, “It’s evident that there’s a vast, unexplored world hidden behind his graphic novel, which we can merely speculate about.
The task at hand was compressing one detailed narrative into a two-hour movie instead of a sprawling graphic novel. This required us to be extremely precise with the storyline, which turned out to be an enjoyable process, as we delved deep into his exceptional artwork for ideas on how to create an engaging tale within this world, according to Anthony.
Joe and Anthony made their mark in television on shows such as “Arrested Development” and “Community.” Notably, Joe mentioned that the movie contains many similarities to “Community,” coupled with relevant discussions and themes.
In Joe’s words, he described a scenario where animatronics from Disney, around the late ’50s, gained consciousness and called for equal rights. This is the setting from which the conflict arises. The choice to set the story in the ’90s serves the narrative purpose of the movie, reinforcing its central theme.
Pratt described the time period as “A ’90s that mirrors our contemporary society.” In a making-of video, Pratt and Brown displayed numerous props and design elements reminiscent of the ’90s, such as Big Mouth Billy Bass, Cabbage Patch Kids, Barbie dolls, VHS tapes, and Beanie Babies. This suggested that the film will honor the era, but also incorporate modern technology and themes.
Speaking about their inspiration, Joe mentioned that the directors drew from the ’80s films produced by Amblin or directed by Robert Zemeckis, as well as the music compositions of Alan Silvestri, specifically referencing the movie “Back to the Future”.
Later on, Brown admitted she hadn’t had much time to prepare for both films, but she spent some thought on crafting her “angsty teen” persona, sharing pictures of Drew Barrymore from the ’90s as inspiration. Brown stated, “I had never embarked on anything similar before; it was entirely new and distinct. As an actor, I was pushed to my limits… The Russos did a fantastic job in guiding my character development… I frequently sought their advice, asking, ‘How should I approach this scene or that?’ We ultimately figured it out together.
Fresh video clips revealed Brown and Pratt’s character being transported in an antique Volkswagen van by Herman, Keats’ towering friend-robot (voiced by Anthony Mackie). As Keats reminisces about his trust issues and how they initially crossed paths during the robot conflicts, they accidentally discover what appears to be a deserted shopping mall. However, it quickly becomes clear that it isn’t abandoned as they are ambushed and approached by a novel robot once their van overturns.
Following the video, Joe discussed both Herman’s past and future role, as well as the significant contributions of robots and humans in the upcoming film. “The intriguing aspect of the main characters in this movie,” he explained, “is that each one has a painful past they are trying to evade.” He further added, “In essence, they are all nonconformists; technology is prevalent throughout the film, yet none of them choose to engage with it. Instead, they have devised their own methods to distance themselves from it. Herman is no exception; he has severed ties with robot society and now lives off the grid, hiding from authorities along with his fellow outlaws.
Brown and Pratt discussed the enjoyable difficulties they encountered when collaborating with motion capture technology and other tools. “I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Russos, as well as the mocap actors and crew who played a significant role in constructing our world, reducing the amount of effort we had to put in ourselves,” Brown stated.
Apart from Pratt and Brown, the movie also features Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, Jason Alexander, Giancarlo Esposito, and Woody Norman. Interestingly, Woody Harrelson, Mackie, Brian Co, and Jenny Slate provide voices for the leading robots in the film. When talking about the film, the directors expressed their fondness for ensembles, particularly the talented cast of The Electric State.
Anthony shared, “Our team greatly values ensemble storytelling, and it’s evident across our diverse projects – from our smaller films to our larger productions, as well as our television work. This approach stems from my background in a large Italian-American family where conversations were lively and numerous people gathered in small spaces. Over time, we cultivate a strong sense of community and an understanding for the richness that comes with diverse perspectives.
At the end of the discussion, Brown conveyed an emotional thought about the significance of family-friendly films serving as escapism. This idea was initially mentioned by the Russos at the panel’s outset. In her words, “These movies really transport you to another place.” Escapism is indeed a powerful factor, and it’s delightful for families to find solace in moments when they can momentarily leave their current world – which can be quite frightening – and immerse themselves in one that offers transformation.
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2024-10-18 02:25