Movies

Here’s why The Electric State book author supported Netflix movie’s major change

BBG News

The Electric State‘s co-director Joe Russo has reflected on softening the dark tone of the graphic novel in the adaptation for the screen.

The science fiction film, which premiered on Netflix after its cinema run in February, is now available to stream. Featuring Millie Bobby Brown from “Stranger Things”, Ke Huy Quan, and Chris Pratt of Marvel, the movie is based on the graphic novel by Simon Stålenhag. It follows the tale of a girl who lost her brother and embarks on a journey to find him in an alternative 1990s setting.

While Stålenhag’s original story has a more obscure appeal, the Russo brothers felt its technology message would benefit from a more family-friendly angle — and Stålenhag agreed.

“It’s an interesting shift away to a more family appeal tone, because we felt like the message about technology that was in the graphic novel was most important to be heard by younger audiences, and we wanted to make sure that they would watch the film,” Joe Russo told ScreenRant about the approach he and his brother Anthony took with their adaptation.

“And so, it is a broad appeal movie. It is a family film. A 6-year-old could watch it, an 80-year-old can watch it, and everybody in between [can watch it].”

I wholeheartedly concur with this perspective. As a tech-savvy individual, I firmly believe that our focus should be on the tech-immersed generation, spanning from age six to eighteen.

As for Stålenhag, Russo said that the author’s experience as a father made him more lenient to accept the changes made to the source material.

“Simon Stålenhag, who created the book, has two daughters, and he felt it was also really important,” Russo said.

“He said he created the book in a vacuum, as sort of a way for him to express how he felt about technology in the world, but he didn’t intend that to be the only expression of The Electric State, and he felt it was really important that the story also reach his children.”

Earlier, Stålenhag discussed the alterations in his graphic novel, giving fans confidence that he approved of the movie’s course.

He stated on Instagram that while the atmosphere and feel of the movie significantly differ from his book, it’s not due to any fault in the film but rather because the genre changed from cyberpunk thriller to action/adventure.

“So, once you’re onboard for that, this is a great ride of a film.

However, what stands out the most is the film’s genuine heart. Beneath its playful appeal lies a profound message that aligns with the humanistic themes I aimed to express in my book.

The Electric State is streaming on Netflix.

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2025-03-17 23:08

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