After nearly a decade playing the telekinetic fan favourite Eleven, Millie Bobby Brown is closing one of Netflix’s most defining chapters — but she’s wasting no time opening another.
The actress and producer will headline and executive produce Prism, a new Netflix original series that blends mystery, the supernatural, and global stakes. The announcement comes just months before the streaming giant airs the two-volume finale of Stranger Things 5, with Volume 1 dropping on November 26, 2025, and the climactic finale arriving on December 31.
As Brown prepares to say goodbye to Hawkins, her next act promises to be just as ambitious — and far more personal. “Prism is Millie stepping into full creative control,” notes industry strategist Talia Winters, who tracks emerging producer-talent deals for Streamline Analytics. “She’s not just the star — she’s building worlds.”
What Is Prism?
According to Deadline, Prism is based on Nick Shafir’s short story of the same name and follows Cassie, a young woman with a rare ability to communicate with apparitions. When ghostly “visitors” begin appearing all over the world, Cassie becomes humanity’s unlikely link to uncovering the cause — before the living and the dead collide.
Netflix describes the tone as “a high-concept supernatural drama grounded in emotional realism.” The story pairs Brown’s trademark intensity with large-scale world-building — think Stranger Things meets Arrival.
Veteran writer-producer Etan Frankel (Shameless, Animal Kingdom, Friday Night Lights) will serve as showrunner. Frankel’s background in character-driven drama signals that Prism won’t rely on effects alone — it will use its supernatural premise to explore grief, connection, and the afterlife’s moral weight.
“It’s not a ghost story — it’s a human story told through ghosts,” a Netflix development insider said privately. “That’s what made Millie and Rachel sign on.”
A Production Dream Team
Behind Prism stands one of the most decorated creative rosters in streaming.
| Producer/Partner | Recent Work / Credibility |
|---|---|
| Millie Bobby Brown | Star & EP – Damsel, Enola Holmes franchise |
| Rachel Brosnahan | Lois Lane in Superman (2025); EP via Scrap Paper Pictures |
| Joe & Anthony Russo (AGBO) | Directors – Avengers: Endgame, The Gray Man, Citadel |
| Etan Frankel | Showrunner – Shameless, Joe vs. Carole |
| Assemble Media (Jack Heller & Caitlin de Lisser-Ellen) | The Wrath of Becky, The Night House |
This marks Brown’s second collaboration with the Russo brothers after The Electric State, the $200-million sci-fi epic that premiered on Netflix in early 2025.
AGBO co-founder Joe Russo said in a statement that Prism will “expand what supernatural storytelling can look like on television,” while Rachel Brosnahan praised the project as “a cinematic, emotional mystery anchored by female perspectives.”
Entertainment critic Dr. Marissa Clark observes,
“Brown and Brosnahan represent two generations of women redefining power in Hollywood — one a streaming phenom, the other an awards-season veteran. Their partnership gives Prism instant prestige.”
Plot Themes: Ghosts, Humanity, and Global Stakes
At its core, Prism uses a supernatural event — the spontaneous appearance of spirits visible to everyone — to interrogate how societies respond to the unexplainable.
Cassie, the only person able to communicate with the visitors, becomes both bridge and battleground. The series will explore themes of collective grief, belief, and technology’s role in faith, according to early production notes.
Expect sweeping visuals and emotional intimacy: think crowded cityscapes filled with translucent figures, and one woman’s race to decode their purpose before chaos erupts.
Film professor Dr. Elena Vega comments,
“Ghost stories have always mirrored cultural anxiety. By making the phenomenon global, Prism turns private mourning into an international crisis — and that’s a compelling metaphor for our times.”
Millie Bobby Brown: From Eleven to Executive Powerhouse
Brown’s meteoric rise is already one of the entertainment industry’s most closely studied trajectories. From her breakout as Eleven at age 12 to founding PCMA Productions, she’s leveraged her stardom into creative ownership.
Her 2024 fantasy epic Damsel, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, became Netflix’s most-watched film of the year, with a $70 million budget anchored almost entirely by her performance. Fresnadillo praised her as
“a force of nature — unpredictable, dazzling, and utterly fearless.”
Off-screen, Brown has cultivated an unconventional life. She eschews Hollywood parties, lives on a farm with husband Jake Bongiovi (son of rock legend Jon Bon Jovi), and cares for over 45 animals. Yet she continues to dominate global entertainment metrics.
Analyst Kendra Lopez from Horizon Media notes,
“Netflix built an ecosystem around Millie’s appeal — she drives teen, family, and global demographics simultaneously. Few actors her age can anchor that spectrum.”
Her Expanding Slate of Projects
Beyond Prism, Brown’s 2025–26 lineup underscores her ambition:
| Project | Role | Platform / Studio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect (dir. Gia Coppola) | Kerri Strug / Producer | Netflix Film | In final talks |
| Enola Holmes 3 | Enola / Producer | Netflix | In development |
| Untitled Rom-Com | Lead opposite Gabriel LaBelle | Netflix | Filming 2025 |
| The Electric State | Lead / EP (Russo Bros.) | Netflix | Released 2025 |
These projects cement her as one of the few actors under 25 consistently producing their own material — a rare combination of creative and commercial leverage.
Netflix’s Strategy: Building the Next Gen of Star-Producers
With Prism, Netflix continues its strategy of nurturing “hybrid creators” — performers who also develop IP internally. The streamer has successfully used this model with Adam Sandler, Reese Witherspoon, and now Millie Bobby Brown.
“Netflix’s investment in Prism is as much about retaining Millie as it is about the show itself,” says digital-content economist Victor Tran. “She’s Netflix’s closest thing to a home-grown franchise architect.”
The project also keeps AGBO in Netflix’s orbit after their big-budget collaborations, ensuring prestige-series quality with blockbuster sensibilities.
Rachel Brosnahan’s Shift From Screen to Strategy
Fresh off her acclaimed turn as Lois Lane in James Gunn’s Superman, Emmy-winner Rachel Brosnahan is broadening her creative portfolio. Through her company Scrap Paper Pictures, Brosnahan has focused on stories with strong female protagonists and emotional complexity — qualities that Prism promises in abundance.
“Genre doesn’t limit storytelling — it amplifies it,” Brosnahan told Deadline. “Prism explores how people confront the unthinkable with hope, fear, and empathy.”
Her collaboration with Brown signals a new era of female-led creative alliances driving Netflix’s top-tier content.
Production & Release Timeline
Filming for Prism is expected to begin in early 2026, following Brown’s completion of Perfect and Enola Holmes 3. Pre-production is underway in Toronto, with location scouting extending to Iceland and New Zealand for supernatural set-pieces.
Netflix insiders project a late 2026 or early 2027 premiere. Each episode will run approximately 50–55 minutes, blending serialized mystery with cinematic pacing.
Fan Buzz and Industry Reaction
The announcement sent social platforms into overdrive. Within 12 hours of Deadline’s report, the hashtags #MillieBobbyBrown and #NetflixPrism trended globally on X (formerly Twitter), generating over 80,000 mentions.
Fans applauded Brown’s pivot from Stranger Things to something “mature and visionary,” while industry commentators framed it as a strategic passing of the torch from one Netflix era to another.
Streaming columnist Graham Foley summarized it best:
“Stranger Things defined Netflix’s first generation of fandom. Prism could define its next.”
Why Prism Could Be Netflix’s Next Global Phenomenon?
- Built-in Star Power: Brown’s 230 million-plus social reach guarantees global visibility.
- Prestige + Pop Appeal: With Brosnahan and AGBO attached, it balances credibility and spectacle.
- Genre Demand: Supernatural thrillers remain Netflix’s most consistently watched category worldwide.
- Cultural Timing: The story’s focus on mortality and connection resonates post-pandemic.
- Franchise Potential: The open-ended mythology allows expansion into films or spin-offs.
Final Take: A Ghost Story With Heart and Scale
Millie Bobby Brown’s Prism isn’t just another supernatural drama — it’s a career milestone and a statement of intent. It marks her evolution from performer to power-player, while signaling Netflix’s commitment to premium, female-led storytelling.
As Stranger Things draws its final curtain, Prism looks set to open an entirely new door — one filled with mystery, emotion, and the unmistakable force of a star who’s only just getting started.
FAQs – Prism on Netflix
1. Who stars in Prism?
Millie Bobby Brown leads as Cassie, joined by executive producer Rachel Brosnahan and AGBO Studios.
2. What’s it about?
A woman who can communicate with ghosts investigates why spirits begin appearing across the world.
3. Who’s the showrunner?
Etan Frankel (Shameless, Friday Night Lights).
4. When does it release?
Expected in late 2026 or early 2027 on Netflix.
5. How is it different from Stranger Things?
While both explore the supernatural, Prism is more mature and globally scaled, focusing on emotional realism over nostalgic fantasy.
