After “Devs,” Alex Garland’s first foray into the world of prestige television, it seemed as if the writer-director was going to stick around on the small-screen and work on another TV project. Well, that plan has been changed, apparently, as it’s revealed that Garland is now setting up his next feature and he’s already found his studio and star.
According to Deadline, Alex Garland is working on a new feature, “Men,” which is going to be in partnership with A24 (the same folks that released his directorial debut, “Ex Machina”). And not only that, but it seems as if Jessie Buckley will be the star of the film, as she is in talks to lead the Garland feature. Adding to the excitement is the fact that Rory Kinnear has also reportedly landed a role in the film. All told, clearly, Garland is knee-deep in the development of the film and it looks like we might have a follow-up to “Ex Machina” and “Annihilation” sooner than we thought.
The report claims “Men” tells the story of a woman that goes on a solo trip to the English countryside after the death of her ex-husband. Yep, that’s the synopsis. I read it a few times before I realized there is really no mention of robots, monsters, aliens, or any other sci-fi element that has become a hallmark of a Garland project. Of course, this early into the development process, there are likely plenty of secrets being held back that we’ll just have to be patient for. Or, maybe, Garland is making a big departure with this new film and focusing on the human drama without any of the shiny sci-fi bells and whistles.
LISTEN: Imagining The End of Humanity: Alex Garland’s Essential Films [Be Reel Podcast]
That said, the filmmaker did reveal that he was working on a “low-budget horror movie” which was going to be set in the UK. So, perhaps, this is it?
Buckley is probably best known for her role in the most recent feature “I’m Thinking of Ending Things.” In addition, she’s had breakout roles in projects such as “Fargo,” “Wild Rose,” and “Beast.” She’s one of the most exciting up-and-coming actors and definitely fits the mold of strong actresses in Garland’s previous efforts, such as Natalie Portman, Alicia Vikander, and Sonoya Mizuno.
Kinnear is a veteran actor that has appeared in a number of huge projects over the years. He’s a fixture in the Bond franchise, appearing in the Daniel Craig-era films, including the upcoming “No Time to Die.” He’s also had roles in “Penny Dreadful” and “The Imitation Game.”
It’s unclear when production might begin on the film and when A24 might want to distribute. With the pandemic still affecting release dates and production schedules, it would be foolish to even attempt to guess. Hopefully, it’s sooner rather than later.