"It's A Different Kind Of War": The Electric State Writer Details The Movie's Original Backstory

The Electric State co-writer Stephen McFeely has detailed the movie's original backstory, and how it sets the stage for the film's main plot. Based on the illustrated novel by Simon Stålenhag, The Electric State's story follows orphan Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), who travels with a man named Keats (Chris Pratt) to the movie's titular location in search of her brother, Christopher (Woody Norman). Promotional material has confirmed a war between man and machine following an uprising, leading to the latter being sequestered in an area that keeps them away from humanity.

Speaking with SFX Magazine (via GamesRadar), McFeely offered more details about The Electric State's original backstory, confirming an "AI War" between humans and machines. The film's co-writer explained how the movie begins by detailing this conflict, inspired by the robots in Stålenhag's book, representing them in the battle. This includes some pulled right from the source material. Check outt what McFeely had to say below:

What The Electric State's Backstory Means For The Movie

Offering Context For The Source Material

The Electric State is reflective of other movies by the Russo brothers, hinting at plenty of action-packed moments alongside engaging characters as Michelle searches for her brother. While this story pulls from Stålenhag's novel, McFeely's statement indicates the conflict leading up to the events of the alternate 1990s will be both different and more concrete. The trailers have already hinted at this, with a car being thrown through a building and robots getting attacked by US forces, emphasizing the dynamics of the war.

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Because of the detailed backstory for the robots in the movie, it's liable to spend plenty of time with other characters important to the war, such as Stanley Tucci's tech billionaire Ethan Skate. The Netflix movie is also one of the most expensive originals ever produced, with a reported budget of $320 million that will likely be reflected in the way the machines are presented. While the core adventure is going to focus on Michelle searching for her brother, the war McFeely spoke about offers another potent lens through which to view the sci-fi movie's world.

Our Take On The Electric State's "AI War" Backstory

It Can Offer Intrigue Right Away

By depicting a major conflict between man and machine right away, The Electric State can offer plenty of intrigue about its story and world, emphasized by its focused worldbuilding. Pulling from Stålenhag's book is also the perfect way to make these changes, differentiating the movie through certain details while still giving it the same familiar feel as the source material. While the action-adventure focus is very different from the novel, it seems like it's still being honored, even in the original backstory elements yet to unfold.