Ex MachinaandMendirectorAlex Garlandthinks that his upcoming dystopian war movie,Civil War, will be thelast time he directs a project. Speaking withThe Guardian, the filmmaker has said in the past that he already wants to give up directing and retreat back to writing, but while many thought the filmmaker was perhaps just having a bad day, Garland insists that he still feels the same andCivil Warwill be his last time calling the shots from behind the camera.
“Nothing’s changed. I’m in a very similar state. I’m not planning to direct again in the foreseeable future.”
Garlandhas so far helmed four projectsfor the big screen inEx Machina, Annihilation, Men, and this year’sCivil War, as well asDevsfor the small screen. Each project has largely been met with critical acclaim, with even the more divisiveMenbeing praised for its provocative and unique storytelling.
For Garland, though, he has grown frustrated with the pressures that come from directing. And it’s nothing to do with the money. Instead, he reveals that the pressure of convincing actors that, eventually, a giant VFX blue screen will be transformed into a warzone, or that nudity will be used respectfully, has become too much.
“The pressure doesn’t come from the money. It comes from the fact that you’re asking people to trust something that, on the face of it, doesn’t look very trustworthy.
Alicia [Vikander] and Sonoya [Mizuno] are trusting that nudity is going to be dealt with thoughtfully and respectfully … [when] cinema leans towards not doing that.”
Civil War Is Due to Land in Theaters Later This Month
Not only have the pressures of being at the helm become too much for Garland, the writer and director sounds like he prefers being in the shadows of filmmaking, where he doesn’t have to take part in press events. He states that, while he still loves film, he has “fallen out of love” with filmmaking, saying to the Guardian journalist…
“No, I have. I do actually love film, but filmmaking doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It exists in a life and also in a broader context. I have to interact, in a way – without being rude – like this …”
While it certainly sounds like Garland will now back away from directing, he is next due to co-direct the upcoming projectWarfarealongside Ray Mendoza, who served as the military supervisor on Garland’sCivil War.
Civil War Star Says Dystopian Action Movie ‘Will Spark a Conversation’ That ‘Needs to Be Had’
In an exclusive interview with MovieWeb, Civil War star Jojo T. Gibbs discusses the importance of Alex Garland’s dystopian war movie.
Written and directed by Alex Garland,Civil Wartakes audiences on a journeyacross a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House.
Starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jesse Plemons, and Nick OffermanCivil Waris scheduled to be released in theaters on July 20, 2025.
