Why a new Netflix movie took 7 years and $320,000,000 to make-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

We’re still waiting for more information on what might be one of Netflix’s most expensive ever films, due to release later in 2024 (Picture: Simon and Schuster)

Netflix has a massive film in the works that’s helmed by some of Hollywood’s biggest directors, with a starry cast attached led by Millie Bobby Brown – and is reported to have cost an eye-watering $320,000,000.

That rumoured number could increase yet too as fans are still waiting for an official release date for The Electric State.

All that’s been said so far is that the next blockbuster coming to us courtesy of Marvel alumni Joe and Anthony Russo should be released at some point in 2024.

Scant details have been released for the film to date, which is an adaptation of Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 graphic novel of the same name.

What we do know is that it follows Stranger Things star Brown, 20, as orphaned teenager Michelle who traverses the American West in search of her younger brother in a retro-futuristic past.

Joining her on the journey is a sweet but mysterious robot and an eccentric drifter. 

Millie Bobby Brown, pictured on set as her orphaned teen character MIchelle, leads the A-list cast (Picture: Backgrid)

She’s joined in the cast by Chris Pratt, Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci and Jason Alexander, as well as the voice talents of Brian Cox, Anthony Mackie, Billy Bob Thornton and Megalopolis star Giancarlo Esposito.

The Russo brothers have been planning their movie since 2017, when they acquired the rights to The Electric State pre-publication, and it was announced in December of that year, with them producing.

Nearly seven years later and fans are yet to see a poster, official image or even teaser trailer for the movie which looks set to be Netflix’s next major blockbuster.

The Gray Man, also directed by Joe and Anthony Russo for Netflix, is one of the streamer’s most popular-ever films (Picture: Paul Abell/Netflix via AP)

After all, the Russos helmed one of the streamer’s most watched films of all time in The Gray Man in 2022, which is sixth on the overall list of Netflix’s most popular films with 139,300,000 views in its first 91 days.

That may go some way to explain why the film’s budget has reportedly swollen to $320million, according to World of Reel, as well as its lengthy gestation period.

It’s also going to get a theatrical release before streaming on Netflix, given that it was initially a project that Universal won the distribution rights to back in 2020.

However, by June 2022 they were transferred to Netflix due to Universal’s change of heart over a run in cinemas.

There had also already been delays as the production waited for the Russos to wrap on The Gray Man, and for Brown to finish shooting season four of Stranger Things.

Tragically, once filming got underway in October 2022, it was paused a month in after a member of the crew died in a car crash off-set.

Principal photography then finished in February 2023.

However, it wasn’t until earlier this year that reshoots occurred, which happened between March and April.

So after years in the making, it’s still rather a mystery to its fans.

Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Joe and Anthony Russo and Netflix for comment.

The Electric State is yet to receive a release date, but is expected later in 2024.

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