Annihilation - from Ex Machina writer/director Alex Garland

[Octoberist]

The book is very Lovecratian wired.

 

[Boom]

Now I want him adapting Lovecraft.

 

[Black Narcissus]

 

[Doctor Jones]

Damn, am I looking forward to this even more now.

 

[Boom]

Hype.

 

[Doctor Jones]

The unavailable image makes that post very Boom.

 

[Moridin]

 

[Boom]

The unavailable image makes that post very Boom.

I know. I'm not sure why it did that but it's all good.

 

[dude stannis]

This pleases me. Greatly.

 

[Black Narcissus]

 

[Kane52630]

Looks good.

 

[Moridin]

MOAR.


I wonder how long the shoot is, they're 2 months in now.

No release date yet, either.

EDIT: Don't think it's been mentioned here, Benedict Wong joined the cast.

as well as, we're pleased to announce, an as-yet-unknown part in Alex Garland’s 2017 sci-fi thriller Annihilation

http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/...g-on-new-direction-of-his-doctor-strange-role


Also, I hope Isaac has another dance scene in this.

 

[dude stannis]

 

[Boom]

Beautiful.

 

[Breogan]

I assume Issac is playing Portman's husband.

Having only read the first book, I also first assumed Issac must be playing the husband, although as is in the book, it struck me as a somewhat underdeveloped character for him; figured on top of an opportunity for Issac to work with Garland again, and a chance to work opposite Portman, the husband role might likely be expanded with flashbacks of expedition 11.

Now having read the second book (Authority), I'm more convinced he will be playing John Rodriguez (Control) of the second book. Its a much better realized and interesting character, and without spoiling to much, overall a better developed character to play off Portman's Biologist/Ghost-bird character, as the trilogy progresses.

What do people think or want, will this strictly be an adaptation of book one, or will they begin by pulling characters from book two, to better set up the trilogy?

 

[Moridin]

Having only read the first book, I also first assumed Issac must be playing the husband, although as is in the book, it struck me as a somewhat underdeveloped character for him; figured besides an opportunity for Issac to work with Garland again, and opposite Portman, the role might likely be expanded with flashbacks of expedition 11.
Now having read the second book (Authority), I'm more convinced he will be playing John Rodriguez (Control). Its a much better realized and interesting character, and without spoiling to much, overall a better developed character to play off Portman's Biologist/Ghostbird character, as the trilogy progresses.

What do people think or want, will this strictly be an adaptation of book one, or will they begin by pulling characters from book two, to better set up the trilogy?

I haven't read the books, but I do remember Garland saying he wrote the script having only read the first book.

 

[Breogan]

I haven't read the books, but I do remember Garland saying he wrote the script having only read the first book.

I read the same quote (bellow), which is what had me convinced Issac would be playing the husband of the first book, despite it being a pretty small, almost blank slate role, it still made enough sense.

Garland-"At the point I started working on Annihilation, there was only one of the three books. I knew that it was planned as a trilogy by the author, but there was only the manuscript for the first book. I really didn’t think too much about the trilogy side of it."

However after reading the second book, it become hard to imagine Issac as anyone other than the character John Rodriguez (Control) of the second book.
Especially when considering the dynamic between the character(s) Portman would play and the John Rodriguez(Control) character of the second book, it's a much more interesting part, and better ongoing dynamic between those two characters that, they seem near perfect roles for Portman and Issac.
Hence my curiosity if anyone else while reading the second book had a similar feeling?

 

[Boom]

Didn't Garland write the script for the Halo movie?

If they can sort out the rights issues, maybe tap him to direct?

 

[Breogan]

What/where is the image from?

 

[Moridin]

What/where is the image from?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHNczpihxXS/

tessamaethompsonLit with the magic of movie making, on Annihilation, with my sunshine @hereisgina 🔋🌿 . Photo by director Alex Garland

 

[Moridin]

Thompson says "wrapped on Annihilation. quite possibly a very beautiful film. can't wait [for you] to see."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHgeXcehivK/


Gina Rodriguez also posted another pic taken by Garland
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGxg_wJHLvn/

Cinematographer Rob Hardy (also worked on Ex Machina) also has some set pics
https://www.instagram.com/rdhardy/

 

[Breogan]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHNczpihxXS/

Gina Rodriguez also posted another pic taken by Garland
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGxg_wJHLvn/

So are we looking at:
Gina Rodriguez = the Anthropologist
Tessa Thompson = the Surveyor

Or the other way around?

And more obviously(not pictured yet):
Natalie Portman = the Biologist
Jen Jason Leigh = the Psychologist
Oscar Isaac = Biologists husband(although I wish they'd saved him for Control)

 

[David H.]

Oscar Isaac = Biologists husband(although I wish they'd saved him for Control)

You mean Authority? If so, I think Garland has mentioned that he isn't a big fan of the sequels.

Spoiler

I think he's changing the ending to accommodate his preference of a singular story.

 

[Breogan]

You mean Authority?

Yes after reading the second book Authority, and now the third Acceptance, where the character John Rodriguez (aka Control) becomes a primary character, while reading seemed to me a much stronger role for Oscar Isaac. Not that there isn't plenty to do with the husband character of Annihilation if they expand it with flashbacks to the 11th expedition.
Still Control is such a great character...

Spoiler

especially played off what would become Portman' s character Ghostbird,

...if they did end up pulling from the sequels, I'm just expressing I do wish they had saved him for that role, it's so good.
But from the quote cited a few posts above, it does look like the film was well in the works before the sequel books.

I think Garland has mentioned that he isn't a big fan of the sequels.

You said "isn't a big fan"? Do you have a quote citation for that sentiment?
Or is it more that when he "...started working on Annihilation, there was only one of the three books." as quoted above? ^

 

[David H.]

I can find the exact quote but, yeah, the books came out around the time he was working on Ex Machina and I think this quote sort of explains why he wants to make a standalone film now and maybe think of sequels later on:

"When I worked*on ‘Dredd,’ I absolutely tried to imagine it was a trilogy and what would be the structure. Possibly as a result of having done that, the film bombing and those ideas sort of turning to dust, I’m probably reluctant to think too much in those terms again…"

Seems he's set on making a satisfying film regardless of the it's faithfulness to the source material.

source: http://deadline.com/2016/01/alex-garland-ex-machina-annihilation-interview-1201675879/