Netflix has officially cancelled the sports drama Perfect, a project that was set to star Millie Bobby Brown as Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug, following the actress’s sudden departure from the production. The decision to shelve the film, which was slated to begin production this summer, comes after what industry sources describe as significant creative disagreements between Brown and the production team.
The Cancellation of ‘Perfect’
The biopic was intended to chronicle the journey of Kerri Strug during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, specifically her iconic vault performance while suffering from a severe ankle injury. Brown was attached to the project as both the lead actress and an executive producer. The film had already faced internal turnover, with director Gia Coppola stepping away earlier this year before being replaced by Cate Shortland. Following Brown’s exit, Netflix confirmed to Deadline that the project will not move forward.
This is not the first time Brown has found herself at the center of behind-the-scenes tension. Earlier this year, she was named in harassment allegations involving her Stranger Things co-star David Harbour during the filming of the final season.
Potential Return to Hawkins
While the cancellation of Perfect marks a major shift in Brown’s immediate slate, speculation regarding her future in the Stranger Things franchise has intensified. Despite the flagship series concluding its five-season run in November 2024, reports indicate that a new project, Stranger Things: The Storyteller and the Mage, is currently in development at Netflix. Sources suggest that Brown and co-star Finn Wolfhard are expected to reprise their roles as Eleven and Mike Wheeler.
The Future of the Stranger Things Franchise
The reported spinoff draws its title from a pivotal framing device in the series finale, where Mike Wheeler tells a story suggesting that Eleven survived her final conflict. While the Duffer Brothers previously stated that the core character arcs were complete, the development of this project indicates a potential expansion of that narrative. Meanwhile, Netflix continues to broaden the franchise with the upcoming 3D animated series Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, set to premiere on April 23, and a filmed version of the Broadway production The First Shadow.
The spinoff news also adds another layer to the ongoing off-screen drama within the cast. David Harbour faced separate bullying allegations as Stranger Things wrapped its final season — allegations that now take on new significance if the two are set to work together again in the spinoff.
The simultaneous collapse of a high-profile biopic and the emergence of a legacy-defining spinoff suggests a strategic pivot for both Brown and Netflix, indicating that the streaming giant remains heavily incentivized to prioritize established intellectual property over new, standalone biographical projects in an increasingly competitive landscape.