Alex Garland has gone from strength to strength since deciding to go from screenwriter to director. Ex-Machina, Annihilation and Men are all strong films that explore sci-fi themes in unsettling ways. Yes, Men attracted some criticism due to its vapid understanding of female trauma, but despite this, it was a good film that created an interesting atmosphere.

His upcoming film, “Civil War,” set for release on April 26, 2024, by A24, is already generating significant buzz and anticipation. Garland’s latest project portrays a stark near-future America teetering on the brink of civil war. Hopefully, this is more speculative fiction than prescient foresight. Though, the film could benefit from the upcoming division in the election in 2024.

Civil War is described as an adrenaline-fueled journey through a near-future America that is balanced on the razor’s edge of societal collapse. This setting allows Garland to explore themes of division and conflict within a sci-fi allegory, mirroring the current polarised state of global politics and social discourse. 

This is Garland’s biggest film yet, so it’s not too surprising to see that he’s got a pretty impressive cast attached to this one, including Kirsten Dunst in a role as a reporter, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Cailee Spaeny, Jesse Plemons, and Nick Offerman as the President of the United States. 

Announced in January 2022, the production of Civil War began in Atlanta on March 15, 2022, before moving to London. Garland, in his discussions about the transatlantic production, has described it as a companion piece to his previous work, Men, indicating that Civil War will continue his exploration of complex and often disturbing themes.

Given Garland’s track record with critically acclaimed films like Ex Machina and Annihilation, expectations are high for Civil War. His approach to filmmaking, often characterised by a unique blend of intellectual depth and visual storytelling, has set a high bar for this latest project. His narratives are rarely predictable, so don’t go into this with any pre-set expectations.

Release Date: April 26, 2024

Will It Be Good?

This is A24’s biggest film ever. Considering their recent change in direction, they’ll be gambling that this will be a hit. Similarly, with its relevancy to modern-day politics, it’s likely going to be part of the larger cultural discourse of the year. Then again, that’s all speculative. The film could fail to connect with audiences.

But Garland has proven himself capable of making great sci-fi films that feel truly unique, so it’s hard to imagine it will be totally void of something to appreciate even if it gets a similar reception to Men. 

Will It Be Worth Watching? Yes