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It's rare occurrence, these days, but not every successful film needs a sequel. You've heard the expression "If you love something, set it free," correct? Perhaps that's how EX MACHINA director Alex Garland feels about his critical sci-fi smash, ANNIHILATION, as the filmmaker has recently stated that he has no desire to create a follow-up to the female-led cerebral thriller.
“I’ve got no objection to someone else doing that, but I’m not interested in the idea of a sequel,” Garland recently told IndieWire. “I feel like we made this movie and this is the movie that we made.”
Now, the reason that sequel talks are "in the ether" is because ANNIHILATION is a stylish adaptation of author Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy, a three-part epic that chronicles expeditions into the mystrerious Area X, an other-worldly dimension where the laws of nature are steadily being over-written by forces beyond humankind's understanding. With there being two parts left to VanderMeer's saga, it's no surprise that Paramount Pictures would want to continue exploring the title's cinematic potential. Granted, the film didn't exactly set fire to the box office with $32.7 million in domestic receipts, but that didn't stop the movie from being the talk of the town among critics and fans for several week's after its theatrical and Netflix release.
“When the thing is done, I am done with it,” Garland clarified to IndieWire in regard to his overall approach to filmmaking. “I instantly start moving on, so I don’t even have an opinion on an ‘Annihilation’ sequel. All the way through I was clear with everyone, from the studio to the cast, I told everyone that I didn’t really see it as part of a franchise. My goal was to make this film and do the best job I can. I didn’t even conceptualize it as the start of a trilogy. Sequels are just not something I’m interested in doing. It’s like when you don’t like steak, you don’t make the decision not to eat steak, you just don’t eat steak. I just don’t do sequels.”
For the moment, fans of Garland's ANNIHILATION will have to settle for more discussions about the many questions that the thought-provoking film poses to its audience. Or, they can snag a copy of VanderMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy and search for answers to their burning questions.
Who do you think would be a fine fit to helm a sequel to Alex Garland's ANNIHILATION? Personally, I'd like to see Denis Villeneuve direct an excursion into Area X. Let us know who you think would be best for the job in the comments section below.
ANNIHILATION starring Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Benedict Wong, Oscar Isaac, Gina Rodriguez and Tuva Novotny is now available via Digital, Blu-ray and DVD.
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