Millie Bobby Brown’s Upcoming Netflix Movie Is Easing Concerns About Common Fantasy Clichés

Netflix’s upcoming fantasy movie, Damsel, will not only subvert expectations of women in action and fantasy movies, but hopefully rewrite the book on future projects as well. Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Damsel centers around a naive damsel named Elodie who agrees to marry a handsome prince under the auspices of becoming royalty. However, after agreeing to the marriage, Elodie swiftly discovers that the marriage is actually a sacrificial ceremony meant to pay off the family’s ancient debt. Based on the footage from the trailer, Brown’s Elodie will use her combat and survival skills to defend herself.

Damsel looks to establish a new genre in which women are at the forefront of the otherwise male-dominated action and fantasy movies of years past while demonstrating their aptitude for tackling the gritty and physically demanding subjects perfectly appropriate for a hulking, A-list male actor. Despite the limited information regarding Damsel, its very existence is a gift in and of itself as it has the potential to shift the paradigm in a way that will set the stage for more female-led action movies where the story and characters are fleshed out and have a meaningful impact on the genre.

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Damsel Cast & Character Guide: Who’s Joining Millie Bobby Brown In The Netflix Fantasy Movie

The Netflix fantasy movie Damsel has assembled a stellar cast that includes Millie Bobby Brown as the title character and Robin Wright as a queen.

Millie Bobby Brown’s Damsel Movie Is Darker Than Expected

Damsel centers around sacrificial practices in addition to its blood and action.

Given Brown’s track record of appearing in TV shows largely catered towards children, it would be a fair assumption to think that Damsel is going to be another movie with similar sensibilities. However, as the trailer wastes no time demonstrating, Damsel is going to be a bloody affair that also contains messaging steeped in the ethics of committing morally dubious acts in the name of tradition, all while showcasing Brown’s aptitude for convincingly pulling off stunts and stylish swordplay. Furthermore, Damsel‘s premise of Elodie being a princess looking to marry into royalty is another stroke of genius.

The brilliance behind the filmmakers’ decision to make Elodie a princess suggests that a concerted effort is being made to subvert the norms associated with women in action and fantasy movies. By making the classic damsel in distress character the fearless warrior, audiences gain exposure to a new form of storytelling. Not only that, but the film also has the potential to inspire fresher interpretations of female fantasy movie characters. While it’s too early to tell for sure, Damsel looks like it will embrace its darkness for the better.

Why Damsel Needs To Embrace The Dark Side Of Fantasy

Damsel’s dark subjects provide a unique opportunity to update the fantasy genre.

In addition to the movie’s dark premise of women unknowingly agreeing to be sacrificial lambs for a wealthy family, Damsel should embrace its darker element because it’s something seldom seen from a female perspective. While other great dark fantasies like Game of Thrones and The Witcher exist, both stories are largely told through a male lens. With Damsel featuring a female lead, viewers can potentially experience a completely new story that’s filled with as much drama and suspense as it is with action. Damsel needs to honor its premise to leave an indelible mark on the fantasy genre.