Alex Garland is Not Interested in an ‘Annihilation’ Sequel

Annihilation was one of the most profound sci-fi experiences to be had in theaters this year. But don’t look to director Alex Garland to try to replicate the sci-fi/horror film that critics were hailing as a modern masterpiece. Though the film is based on the first entry in author Jeff VanderMeer‘s trilogy of sci-fi novels, Garland says that he isn’t interested in making an Annihilation sequel.

Alex Garland’s Annihilation is based off the first novel in VanderMeer’s Southern Reach trilogy, which is followed by the sequels Authority and Acceptance. However, Garland — and the film’s ending itself — makes it clear that the director has no intention of continuing the story that VanderMeer mapped out in his books.

In an interview with IndieWire during a discussion marking the film’s Blu-ray release, Garland says that he adapted the story with no intention of beginning a franchise:

“I’ve got no objection to someone else doing that, but I’m not interested in the idea of a sequel. I feel like we made this movie and this is the movie we made.”

To be fair, Annihilation is a pretty loose adaptation of VanderMeer’s book of the same name. Back when the film was first released in theaters in February, our own Chris Evangelista detailed how the film’s earth-shattering and finite ending essentially shut down the possibility of sequels.

Rather than a strict adaptation, Garland described his film Annihilation as an attempt to capture the “strong dreamlike aspect” he experienced while reading VanderMeer’s novel. “Reading it is like being in a dream, in a weird way,” he told The Verge.  “I thought, ‘That’s really interesting, and I’d like to have a try.'”

But you only have to look at the Garland’s brief but brilliant filmography (Ex Machina) to understand that he just doesn’t “do sequels,” as he tells IndieWire. He added:

“When the thing is done, I am done with it. 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.”

Instead, Garland is eager to move on to his next project: an FX TV sci-fi TV series called Devs. But those hoping for more of what we got in Annhilation may be disappointed — Garland cryptically teased that where Annihilation went big and ambiguous, Devs will be precise and “rigorous.”

But if you want to engulf yourself in the surreal fever dream world of Annihilation again, you only need to turn to the film’s digital, DVD, or Blu-ray, all available for purchase now.

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