Damsel 2 Is Only Worth Making If Netflix Fixes 1 Frustrating Behind-The-Scenes Mistake

Damsel‘s streaming success proves that a sequel could happen, but Netflix would need to correct one of its more frustrating mistakes regarding the first movie. There’s no question that Millie Bobby Brown shined in her role as Princess Elodie in the movie that twists traditional fairytale tropes. However, Damsel, as a whole, had a mixed reception. Despite the exciting fantasy concept and Brown’s star power, something about the Netflix movie’s script fell flat. Still, Damsel held Netflix’s top spot in the US in the weeks following its release, which seems to make Damsel 2 possible.

Damsel tells the story of a high-born lady who agrees to marry a wealthy prince to save her kingdom. Their union turns her into a princess, but Elodie’s fairytale ending is cut short when her new husband, Prince Henry (the true villain of Damsel), throws her into a dragon pit. No one is coming to save this damsel in distress, so she must fight to survive—and to secure her revenge. Overall, Damsel has an excellent premise. However, the feminist-focused script was painfully superficial, likely because its writer isn’t a member of the community the movie seeks to represent.

Damsel’s Feminist-Themed Script Suffered Without A Female Writer

At its core, Damsel is a feminist-themed “girl power” story, and it managed a somewhat satisfying ending with Elodie reclaiming power by befriending the (female) dragon and annihilating those who had abused her. Of course, she first had to draw strength from the countless young women who had died in the dragon pit before her. Damsel is a tale of women’s strength and comradery—or at least it attempted to be. The problem is that these concepts were only explored at the surface. It was clear that the person holding the pen didn’t have the first-hand experience that such a theme required.

Damsel‘s script was written by Dan Mazeau, who is known for his work on Fast X (2023) and Wrath of the Titans (2012). There’s no question that Mazeau has a talent for action, but with one of the more criticized aspects of Damsel being its script (check out Screen Rant‘s review here), it seems that Netflix went wrong here. Mazeau and director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo attempted to layer the story with symbolism, like the many hidden features of Elodie’s dress, thus exploring the standard expectations placed on women. However, as men, they added nothing new to the conversation.

A Female-Led Creative Team Could Take Elodie’s Story Much Further In Damsel 2

Ultimately, Damsel came across as precisely what it was—a story about women written by men. Still, this isn’t to say that it had no potential. The fantasy aspect of the Netflix movie checked all the boxes, and the action was a great deal of fun. Additionally, the feminist topics that Mazeau and Fresnadillo superficially explored were effective to a point, so a sequel from Netflix would be no surprise. However, it’s clear from the decline of Damsel‘s plot that Maseau’s experience in the plight of women was spent in the first film, so a female writer would be a necessity for Damsel 2.

Damsel ended with Elodie setting out into the world with her new dragon friend, which means there are nearly endless possibilities for where the story could go. A sequel would surely continue to explore the oppressive expectations placed on women, and going deeper than the original movie would require a writer who has experienced this firsthand. Rather than a story about women just for the sake of it, a Damsel sequel written by a female writer could feature a protagonist that more genuinely reflects what it is to be a woman fighting back.

Damsel’s Netflix Success Proves A Sequel Has Promise (But It’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Is a Problem)

Despite its issues, Damsel has done well enough for itself. The film has managed to stay atop Netflix’s Top 10 in the United States, proving that the premise is at least entertaining. This could be enough to encourage Netflix to invest in Damsel 2, but this may be tricky since the first movie only managed a 56% on Rotten Tomatoes. The mixed performance means that Elodie’s story might not have lasting power—audiences may come for the cool-looking dragon, but they might not be willing to stay for a continued story. Of course, a female writer for Damsel 2 could make all the difference.