The female-led sci-fi thriller Annihilation is shaping up to be truly epic. See a first-look image of the all-star cast in action.
Being a fan of women, science fiction and women in science fiction, I am obviously stoked beyond belief for Annihilation, the Alex Garland-directed adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer’s trippy novel of the same name.
Related: Annihilation starring Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson sets 2018 release date
Starring Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tessa Thompson as the leading squad of scientists heading into the mysterious ‘Area X’, Annihilation promises to “weird and beautiful,” in the words of Portman’s on-screen husband Oscar Isaac (who previously worked with Garland on the similarly weird and beautiful Ex Machina).
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The first-look image comes via Entertainment Weekly, and shows Portman’s character Lena examining the teeth of an alligator that Garland reveals “has physical elements to it that should not belong on an alligator.”
The alligator is the scientists’ “first tangible encounter with something strange” in the place that they have been sent to investigate.
Tessa Thompson is featured in the background of the image, and Gina Rodriguez has confirmed on Twitter that she’s the one seen prying open the alligator’s hefty jaws.
The short synopsis for Annihilation reads:
“A biologist searches for her missing husband while on an expedition with a secret agency and discovers a dangerous creature lurking in the wilderness.”