Netflix has made another ambitious attempt to create a major blockbuster with The Electric State. The streaming giant invested heavily in bringing Simon Stålenhag’s book to life. The film has some of the biggest names in Hollywood working behind the scenes.
Anthony and Joe Russo directed the movie, bringing their experience from the Avengers: Endgame films. The script was written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who also worked on the Avengers movies. The legendary Alan Silvestri composed the music, adding his signature style to the film’s emotional depth.
Netflix gave this movie a massive budget of over $300 million, making it one of the most expensive productions in recent times. The story takes place in an alternate version of 1990. In this world, humans built robots to assist them, but the machines eventually turned against their creators. A devastating war between humans and robots followed, changing the course of history.
A powerful technology called the Neurocaster allowed humans to control remote drones with their minds. Tech billionaire Ethan Skate, played by Stanley Tucci, developed this technology. His invention ended the war and established his company, Sentre, as the most powerful force in this world. However, the world remains in ruins, and many unanswered questions linger.
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Michelle’s Journey Through a Broken World
The movie follows Michelle Green, played by Millie Bobby Brown, a teenager who struggles to survive in this new reality. She lost her parents and her brother, Christopher, in a tragic car accident. One day, her life takes a shocking turn when a robot named Cosmo appears before her. Cosmo resembles the main character from Christopher’s favorite cartoon.
Michelle soon learns something even more surprising—her brother is still alive. Christopher, played by Woody Norman, is controlling Cosmo and guiding Michelle on a journey across the United States to save him. She sets out on this dangerous mission, determined to uncover the truth about her brother and the world around her.
As Michelle and Cosmo travel across the country, they face many dangers and discover shocking secrets. The world is not as it seems, and the truth about the war and the Neurocaster technology is far more sinister than she imagined.
A Mysterious Ally and an Unforgettable Adventure
Michelle and Cosmo follow a series of clues that lead them to John Keats, played by Chris Pratt. Keats is a former soldier who fought in the war between humans and robots. Now, he survives by smuggling rare artifacts with his robot companion, Herman, played by Anthony Mackie.
Keats agrees to help Michelle and Cosmo on their journey. He takes them to the “exclusion zone,” a place where most of the robots have been forced to live after the war. In this forbidden area, they meet Mr. Peanut, played by Woody Harrelson.
Mr. Peanut, who shares the same name as the famous Planters’ Peanuts mascot, plays an important role in the story. At first, he wants Michelle and Cosmo to leave the exclusion zone. However, Michelle soon discovers that Mr. Peanut helped a brilliant scientist named Dr. Clark Amherst escape from the exclusion zone.
Dr. Amherst, played by Ke Huy Quan, once worked for Ethan Skate’s company, Sentre. He told Michelle that Christopher was dead, but she now realizes he lied. Determined to uncover the truth, Michelle sets out to find Dr. Amherst.
The Dark Truth About Neurocaster Technology
Michelle and Keats eventually track down Dr. Amherst. He finally reveals the horrifying truth about the Neurocaster system. Before the war, Christopher was identified as a genius and was placed in an advanced college program. His intelligence caught the attention of Ethan Skate, who saw an opportunity to use him for a secret project.
Skate faked Christopher’s death and used his consciousness to create the foundation of the Neurocaster system. This allowed Skate to establish his company, Sentre, as the most dominant force in the world. Dr. Amherst, feeling guilty for his role in this deception, discovered a way for Christopher to transfer his consciousness into Cosmo. This allowed Christopher to communicate with Michelle and seek her help.
Now, Michelle understands the full extent of Skate’s cruelty. He didn’t just steal Christopher’s life—he turned him into the core of a system that shaped the entire world. Michelle is more determined than ever to rescue her brother and put an end to Skate’s control.
A High-Stakes Battle and a Heartbreaking Choice
As Michelle, Cosmo, and Keats get closer to the truth, they face new threats. Colonel Marshall Bradbury, played by Giancarlo Esposito, leads a group of soldiers hunting them down. He works for Ethan Skate, who orders him to retrieve Cosmo at any cost.
Without Christopher’s brainwaves, the Neurocaster system starts to fail. Sentre’s network begins to experience serious disruptions. Desperate to maintain control, Skate orders his forces to capture Cosmo and bring him to Sentre headquarters in Seattle.
Before Michelle can reach her brother, Skate takes drastic action. He orders a drone to kill Dr. Amherst, eliminating one of the few people who knew the truth. Colonel Bradbury, who had been blindly following orders, begins to question Skate’s true motives.
Despite the dangers, Michelle refuses to give up. She heads to Seattle, determined to save Christopher. She is joined by Keats and Mr. Peanut, who leads an army of robots against Sentre’s forces.
Michelle finally reaches her brother’s body. For the first time, she puts on a Neurocaster and enters Christopher’s mind. She expects him to ask for help, but instead, he makes a heartbreaking request. Christopher does not want to be a prisoner of Sentre any longer. He asks Michelle to turn off his life support, freeing him forever.
Michelle struggles with the decision, but she knows it is what Christopher truly wants. With great sorrow, she disconnects him from the system. This act completely shuts down the Neurocaster network, destroying Skate’s control over the world.
A Hopeful Future and a Mysterious Ending
After the final battle, Skate is exposed for his crimes. Mr. Peanut chooses to spare his life, and the authorities arrest him. Meanwhile, Keats believes he has lost Herman forever, but he soon discovers that his robot friend has a backup body.
Michelle delivers a message to the world, urging people to rebuild their connections and move forward. The film ends on a hopeful note, but there is one last mystery left unanswered.
In the final scene, we see the wreckage from the Seattle battle being dumped in a junkyard. Among the debris, Cosmo’s body lies motionless. Then, something unexpected happens—Cosmo suddenly stands up and starts walking. This suggests that Christopher’s consciousness may still exist within the robot.
The Electric State: A Thrilling Sci-Fi Adventure of Robots and Family
Netflix’s The Electric State is a visually stunning sci-fi movie with a massive $300 million budget. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the film is based on Simon Stålenhag’s book and features a powerful cast, including Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci, and Giancarlo Esposito.
Set in an alternate version of 1990, the story follows teenager Michelle Green (Millie Bobby Brown), who lost her parents and brother, Christopher, in a tragic accident.
Her life changes when a robot named Cosmo arrives, revealing that Christopher is alive and controlling the robot. Determined to save him, Michelle embarks on a dangerous journey across a post-war America where robots once fought against humans.
Michelle teams up with John Keats (Chris Pratt), a former soldier, and his robot companion, Herman (Anthony Mackie). Their journey leads them to Dr. Clark Amherst (Ke Huy Quan), who reveals the shocking truth—tech billionaire Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci) faked Christopher’s death and used his consciousness to power the Neurocaster, a system that allowed humans to control drones with their minds.
As Michelle fights to rescue Christopher, she faces Skate’s forces, led by Colonel Bradbury (Giancarlo Esposito). In an emotional climax, Christopher asks Michelle to disconnect him, ending Sentre’s control over the world.
Skate is arrested, and Michelle urges humanity to reconnect. However, in a mysterious final scene, Cosmo’s body reactivates, hinting that Christopher’s consciousness may still be alive.
Though no sequel is confirmed, a mobile game titled Kid Cosmo expands on the story. The Electric State delivers action, mystery, and heartfelt moments, making it a must-watch for sci-fi fans.
Will There Be a Sequel?
This ending leaves room for a possible sequel, but Netflix has not officially confirmed anything. Director Joe Russo mentioned in an interview that Netflix has not discussed a sequel yet.
However, a mobile game titled Kid Cosmo is set to release alongside the film. This game takes place before the events of The Electric State and expands on Christopher’s story.
The Russo Brothers are also preparing for their return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Whether or not they revisit The Electric State, the movie stands as a thrilling and emotional sci-fi adventure that leaves audiences with plenty to think about.
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