Netflix has flipped the script on classic princess tales through its upcoming dark fantasy flick, Damsel. For it, Millie Bobby Brown shed her Stranger Things’ Eleven skin and donned armor as Princess Elodie, who is ready to rewrite her fairy tale. Audiences are expecting plenty of sword-swinging action and a stellar performance from the Enola Holmes star in it. This world where happily ever afters are illusions and the princess must navigate a treacherous path to survival has been written in keeping the typical gloom and dread of dark fantasy. 

Here is a peek into how the riveting storyline behind it came to be.

The writer of Netflix’s Damsel

While Netflix’s biggest hit in the fantasy realm, The Witcher was based on novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, Damsel is a tale that originated as a script crafted by Dan Mazeau. The scriptwriter from California has also delivered scripts for flicks like Fast X and Warner Brothers’ The Flash in the past. His portfolio also includes the script of another fantasy film before Damsel, 2010’s Wrath of the Titans.

The film’s director, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo hopes to empower women through the flick. Last year, he told Tudum that what he loved most was how the central theme of “a fantasy adventure and a princess and dragon story” is turned “completely upside down” in the tale presented by Mazeu. So, judging by the Academy-Award nominated director’s comments, Mazeau may have delivered another blockbuster script.

With less than two months to go till its release, here is a glimpse at the movie’s other characteristics. 

Other cast and other details of the Millie Bobby Brown starrer

Besides the renowned Spanish director, Damsel is helmed by Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum in the production department. Both co-producers excellent work in the fantasy genre through flicks like Dolittle and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil speaks for itself. In the cast, Brown shares the screen with Hollywood heavyweights like Angela Bassett, Robin Wright, and Nick Robinson. This powerhouse cast and crew certainly promises captivating dynamics in the flick dropping on March 8th. 

Besides the plot suggested in Damsel’s teaser, not much is known about the script. The short teaser hints at the princess’ arduous journey towards embracing her inner warrior. It shows her trapped in a dragon’s cavern, where she sheds her delicate gown for rough robes, battling her descent into the unknown. Brown’s character’s transformation echoes throughout the teaser’s visual language lent to the movie by Dan Mazeau.

Do you think Mazeau’s script will win over audiences? Share your thoughts in the comments.