Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Electric State.
Even thoughThe Electric Stateseems to have set up a potential sequel, it seems unlikely thatThe Electric State 2will see the light of day in the near future. Based on Simon Stålenhag’s graphic novel of the same name,The Electric Statefollows a straightforward narrative that is not entirely loyal to its source material. Instead of dabbling with serious themes and adopting a dark tone like the original novel, theNetflix sci-fi moviepresents a more family-friendly take on the ideas presented by Simon Stålenhag.
However, it stays true to many character beats from the original novel and avoids paving the way for a full-fledged franchise. In many ways,The Electric Statehas a self-contained narrative that does not have to be stretched with follow-up sequels or spin-offs. At the same time, though, the movie seems to intentionally maintain an air of ambiguity surrounding certain character beats, which could be further explored in a sequel. Owing to this, it is hard not to wonder ifThe Electric State 2can happen someday.
The Electric State’s Ending Makes A Sequel Possible
The Film Ends With A Hopeful Cliffhanger
InThe Electric State’s endingarc, Michelle makes the world a better place by unplugging her brother. Since her brother’s consciousness shared a symbiotic relationship with the neurocasters' network, his death ensures that even the overarching network collapses. As a result, all the human-controlled drones fall to the ground while the robots announce peace instead of attempting to destroy humanity. With this,The Electric Stateends on a hopeful note, suggesting that humans and robots will coexist in peace till the end of time.
…The robots seem capable of subjecting humanity to the same atrocities they had to endure when humans took control over them.
However, since the movie’s primary conflict began after robots turned increasingly defiant and hostile towards humans, the underlying threat from them has not entirely disappeared.The Electric Stateattempts to anthropomorphize the robots by showing how they, too, experience a wide range of emotions, which also highlights how they, too, suffer from the same pitfalls as humans. Owing to this, the robots seem capable of subjecting humanity to the same atrocities they had to endure when humans took control over them.
The Electric State Live-Action & Voice Cast And Character Guide
Apart from walking through an enthralling sci-fi adventure, Netflix’s The Electric State also features memorable performances from a talented cast.
Without the neurocasters, humans would have a hard time containing another robot rebellion. This seems like the perfect setup for a sequel,allowing it to explore how humans and robots will navigate their complex relationships with one another in the aftermath of the Sentre’s collapse.The Electric State’s ending also hints that even after Michelle lets her brother die, the Cosmo robot somehow manages to retain some of his consciousness. A sequel could explain how Chris achieved this feat and what it could mean for the robots' future on the planet.
The Electric State’s ambiguous ending leaves enough room for a sequel, but the movie’s directors, Anthony and Joe Russo, may struggle to find enough time to work on the project. For the next few years, the Russo brothers will likely remain invested in their upcoming MCU movies, 2026’sAvengers: Doomsdayand 2027’sAvengers: Secret Wars. Apart from the two superhero films, the dynamic duo also serve as the producers for many upcoming films, including the swashbuckler action dramaThe Bluff.
Anthony and Joe Russo
15%
$320 million
Based On
The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag
With so many upcoming projects under their belt, it seems unlikely they will consider working on a sequel toThe Electric Stateanytime soon. While only time will tell whether a follow-up to the movie will ever happen, the Russos' busy schedule will likely make it impossible for them to commit to it. IfThe Electric Stateperforms well, however, Netflix might consider having other directors onboard to helm the movie’s sequel.
Will The Electric State 2 Actually Happen At All?
If It Does, It Will Follow An Original Story
The Electric State’s tone may be significantly different from the original book’s, but many aspects of its story align with the source material. Even in its ending moments,The Electric Statecloses on an ambiguous, bittersweet note like the original graphic novel. Owing to this, ifThe Electric State’s sequel happens, it will adopt an original storyline. This, however, would feel unnecessary because the movie does not seem to create a huge demand for a story expansion. It merely explores a few surface-level sci-fi ideas without leaving enough room for a full-fledged franchise to grow.
Addressing their future plans, the Russo brothers revealed (viaFilmhounds) that they designedThe Electric State’s world in a way they thought could be explored further.
Not to mention,The Electric State’s critical receptionhas not been too optimistic. The movie has an underwhelming Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 15%, with many picking holes in its risk-free approach and inability to capture the complex philosophical undertones of its source material. However, given how it has the potential to become commercially successful and boasts a significantly higher audience score of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes,Netflix might consider investing in its sequel if all goes well.
The Electric State
Michelle, an orphan in a robot-filled alternate 1990s, discovers her brother may still be alive after a mysterious robot visit. Teaming up with a smuggler and his sidekick, she ventures into the Exclusion Zone, only to uncover sinister forces behind her brother’s fate.
