The A24 original film Civil War is days away from its April 12 release. The dystopian thriller is helmed by famed director Alex Garland and stars actors Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Jesse Plemons among others.
The film’s action-packed trailer was released in December 2023 and got many fans talking. The gritty teaser depicts a fractured American society wherein rebel forces band together to launch an attack against the President. The POTUS has turned into a tyrant after he disregarded the Constitution and began attacking his citizens.
However, the Civil War trailer got fans talking about the strange alliance it showcased between two American states, who, in reality, don’t see eye-to-eye on many important topics.
Alex Garland’s Civil War sees Texas and California forming an alliance
The Civil War (2024) trailer shows that America has fallen into anarchy after the President smashed the Constitution and seized a third term for his presidency. As a result, Texas and California have joined hands as the Western Forces of Texas and California to fight against the president-controlled military.
However, this unlikely pairing left many viewers scratching their heads. It is a well-known fact that in the real world, Texas and California have very little in common. From their political leanings to geographical locations, the two states fall on the far end of the spectrum.
While Texas has a Republican stronghold, California is more Democratic-leaning. Their opposing political beliefs are also echoed by the fact that California has a Democratic governor – Gavin Newsom. Texas, on the other hand, is helmed by the Republican party’s Greg Abbott.
Another thing to note is that California is located in the western United States, while Texas sits in the South-Central region of the country. Hence the states uniting under the “Western Forces of Texas and California banner” in the Civil War trailer baffled many.
Director explains the reasoning behind Texas and California pairing
In his recent red carpet interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director of Ex Machina, Annihilation, Men, and more hits, explained why he decided to pair Texas and California together in the upcoming Kirsten Dunst starrer.
Alex Garland conveyed that he had put a lot of thought behind the move and there were two reasons behind his decision.
The 28 Days Later director further explained that the state’s pairing came from the fact that they were opposites and that it could be polarizing for the audiences watching. However, it could also make people reflect on the gravity of the circumstance.
Director Alex Garland shares his reasoning for paring up California and Texas in #CivilWar at the premiere of the film pic.twitter.com/4SFfDrHKtq
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 3, 2024
The Ex Machina director said,
“Obviously, it was intentional. Partly to get around a kind of reflexive, polarizing position that people might fall into.”
But he also presented a second “main” reason behind this decision. Garland further explained how the President has turned into a fascist by dismantling laws. Hence, two polar opposite states such as Texas and California not being able to put their differences aside to protect democracy would be “insane” in his opinion. He explained how both states in the movie rise to the occasion and answer the call to protect democracy by banding together.
The filmmaker’s exact words were,
“So then its saying that two states that have a different political position have said our political difference is less important than this. And then the counter to that is, if you cannot conceive of that. What you’re saying is that you’re polarized political position would be more important than a fascist president which when you put it like that I would suggest is insane. Thats an insane position to hold. So its a sort of a bleak commentary.”
Garland will be quitting directing after Civil War‘s release. The writer-turned-director first garnered fame thanks to his 1996 novel The Beach became a sleeper hit. It was then adapted into a film starring Leonardo Di Caprio.
Civil War releases on April 12 in theatres near you.
