One of last year’s biggest success stories in independent cinema was Alex Garland‘s sci-fi thriller Ex Machina. Not only was it A24’s highest-grossing feature yet (and a surprise Oscar winner), it featured the talents of three rising stars at the top of their game, as well as writer-turned-director who kicked off his career behind the camera in quite a promising fashion. As one might expect, it’s taken no time for him to gather support for his next feature, an adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer‘s novel Annihilation, and it looks like he’ll be reteaming with one of his Ex Machina stars.
Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson and Jennifer Jason Leigh are already on board in the four main roles, featuring a group of women who embark on dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don’t apply. The author of the book now updates that Oscar Isaac has joined the ensemble. With the main quartet taking the roles of an anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist (Leigh), and a biologist (Portman), the author confirms that Isaac will play the late husband of the biologist, who is featured in flashback-esque journals.
Sounds like a small part but great news nonetheless.
One of last year’s biggest success stories in independent cinema was Alex Garland‘s sci-fi thriller Ex Machina. Not only was it A24’s highest-grossing feature yet (and a surprise Oscar winner), it featured the talents of three rising stars at the top of their game, as well as writer-turned-director who kicked off his career behind the camera in quite a promising fashion. As one might expect, it’s taken no time for him to gather support for his next feature, an adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer‘s novel Annihilation, and it looks like he’ll be reteaming with one of his Ex Machina stars.
Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson and Jennifer Jason Leigh are already on board in the four main roles, featuring a group of women who embark on dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don’t apply. The author of the book now updates that Oscar Isaac has joined the ensemble. With the main quartet taking the roles of an anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist (Leigh), and a biologist (Portman), the author confirms that Isaac will play the late husband of the biologist, who is featured in flashback-esque journals.
David Gyasi has joined Natalie Portman in Alex Garland’s “Annihilation” at Paramount Pictures.
“Jane the Virgin” star Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Oscar Isaac will also star with Garland directing and adapting the script based on the Jeff VanderMeer novel.
The story follows a biologist, to be played by Portman, as she embarks on a four-person expedition into Area X, a territory cut off from civilization. While there, she must deal with a mysterious contamination, disappearing colleagues, a deadly animal and a being known as the Crawler, all while searching for clues regarding her husband’s disappearance.
Scott Rudin is producing “Annihilation.” While no release date has been set, production is underway.
Gyasi currently stars on the CW sci-fi show “Containment,” which premiered early this month and has already shown ratings growth in its second week.
Gyasi’s past credits include the Wachowskis’ “Cloud Atlas” opposite Tom Hanks, and Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar.” He is repped by United Agents and Management 360.
Pic from the set posted on the insta account of The British Society of Cinematographers - currently hosted by Rob Hardy: https://www.instagram.com/p/BG7302ksQMj/
