When it came to finding the lead for LadyNetflix’s new dark fantasy/action dragon sacrifice film, director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 weeks later) had a clear vision.
“For me, Millie (Bobby Brown) was the only possible option for this film,” he tells Polygon.
The Stranger things And Enola Holmes star leads the cast as Elodie, a young lady who dutifully steps up to marry the prince of a fantasy kingdom because the dowry will save her family’s struggling country. But while she is optimistic about this match, the marriage turns out to be a sham, an excuse to feed her to a vengeful dragon, just like generations of young women before her. After her new husband dumps her in the dragon’s cavernous lair, Elodie fights her way to freedom.
It takes on a metatextual tone, mirroring Brown’s own career as she matures and takes on more challenging and demanding roles. Of Ladyshe also serves as an executive producer, further highlighting how her goals are expanding.
“Millie is at a certain stage in her life — she’s kind of embracing this new time in her life,” Fresnadillo explained to Polygon. “In some ways we have benefited from what is happening with her (career). She also put that heart into the film in a very generous way. That fit perfectly. That was a perfect match that we could see in this film, she also gives to the character – that kind of personal experience that she has had over the years, in the many films that she has done.
Photo: John Wilson/Netflix
Fresnadillo says Brown’s dedication to the edgier parts of the action-packed role surprised him. In the film, Elodie crawls through narrow caves, climbs cliffs and flees from torrents of dragon flames.
“I was so amazed and impressed by her commitment to show the intensity of the entire journey: the pain, the running, the jumping, the intense fight she had to do to save her life,” says Fresnadillo. “I was so amazed at the way she did it because she literally jumped into the water without any hesitation. So she has such a courageous attitude, which is the mark of great actors.”
Fresnadillo was eager to get a chance to reinvent an archetypal fantasy story for a modern audience, complete with a damsel in distress who saves herself. So when renewing the story, it made sense that the heroine at its core was someone who resonated with that new generation.
“Elodie is a new voice for these types of stories,” he says. “It’s a classic story with a modern twist, seen through the eyes of this young woman. It is a new look at new generations. And I’m so happy that (Millie), who represents the new generation of actresses, was willing to do it.”
Lady is on Netflix today.