Filmmaker Alex Garland Confirms Retirement from Directing Just Before The Release of ‘Civil War’

Recently, writer/director Alex Garland announced his retirement from filmmaking. But stepping back from directing does not imply that he will entirely exit the film industry, as he will continue contributing to it as a screenwriter. Although Garland has decided to leave direction, he will take his retirement after delivering the last directorial in his career. Apart from the project he is working on, the upcoming film Civil War is also around the corner. 

Alex Garner works on his final film before retirement from his filmmaking career

Alex Garner is a renowned filmmaker who has now confirmed that he will no longer be helming any further films. His upcoming movie, Civil War, is the most expensive A24 release to date. It follows journalists documenting a new civil war in the United States that occurs when the West, led by Texas and California, attempts to secede from the Union. During the promotion of his upcoming film, the filmmaker told The Guardian about his decision to retire from directing. When asked to follow up on a recent quote he gave regarding his intention to step back from directing after the release of the movie to focus on solely being a screenwriter, Garland said that “nothing’s changed.”

Reflecting on his original statement, the director emphasized that he doesn’t intend to return to the director’s chair for the “foreseeable future.” 

Garland said, “Nothing’s changed. I’m in a very similar state. I’m not planning to direct again in the foreseeable future.”

Garland made his directorial debut when he wrote and directed the sci-fi thriller Ex Machina (2014). The film earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay and won him three British Independent Film Awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Director, and Best British Independent Film. His other notable directorial credits include Annihilation (2018), Men (2022), and now his newest film, Civil War, which is scheduled to be theatrically released on April 12, 2024. 

After the release of his upcoming film, Garland will co-direct his last directorial film, Warfare, with Mendoza, who was also the military advisor on Civil War. 

Garland’s forthcoming project just assembled its cast that includes, Kit Connor, Will Poulter, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Charles Melton, Cosmo Jarvis, and Joseph Quinn. 

After Warfare and Civil War, Garland’s first officially announced upcoming project will see him taking on a screenwriter role without directing. Garland’s upcoming screenwriting project is a horror sequel to 28 Years Later, for which he will reunite with 28 Days Later director Danny Boyle.