The debut trailer for Alex Garland’s upcoming film “Civil War” presents a chilling vision of a future America in internal conflict. Set in a near-future dystopian United States, the storyline seems to center around a race to the White House amidst a nation on the brink of a second civil war.
While the plot details remain undisclosed, a brief logline describes the film as a “race to the White House in a near-future America balanced on the razor’s edge.” The cast includes Kirsten Dunst, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Wagner Maura, Jesse Plemons, Cailee Spaeny, and Sonoya Mizuno, with Nick Offerman portraying the President of the United States.
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According to news clips featured in the trailer, 19 states have seceded, the U.S. military has intensified its operations, and factions such as the “Western Forces” of California and Texas, along with the “Florida Alliance,” are mentioned. The president — played by Offerman — speaks that the ongoing uprising will be dealt with swiftly. And Kirsten Dunst appears to be leading a team of journalists attempting to get into the U.S. Capitol.
The intense Civil War trailer also showcases gripping scenes, including a standoff between Wagner Moura’s character and an armed man played by Jesse Plemons. In the midst of the confrontation, Moura asserts, “There’s been a misunderstanding, we are American,” to which Plemons chillingly responds, “Ok, what kind of American are you?”
“Every time I survived a war zone, I thought I was sending a warning home: don’t do this,” remarks Dunst’s character says as she attempts to reach Washington, even as forces close in on the city.
Civil War is both written and directed by Garland. A24, Garland’s longstanding collaborator since his directorial debut with “Ex Machina” in 2014, is set to release the movie on April 26, 2024, in theaters and IMAX nationwide.
Watch the trailer below.