The first footage from Annihilation, the new thriller from Ex Machina director Alex Garland, has hit the internet. Starring Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Oscar Isaac, Annihilation is adapted from the award-winning novel by Jeff VanderMeer about a biologist who embarks on a research expedition after her husband returns from a similar one in a bizarrely altered state.
Garland, himself a successful novelist whose book, The Beach, became the 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio film, has made a smooth transition to film making: he wrote scripts for 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Never Let Me Go, while his first film as director, Ex Machina, won an Oscar for best visual effects.
Annihilation represents a step upwards in budget and profile, as well as the presence of Portman, a bona fide Hollywood star, in the lead role. It is due for release on 23 February in the UK and US.
