CREED’s Tessa Thompson May Join ANNIHILATION From EX MACHINA’s Alex Garland

Fresh off of some strong critical notices for her supporting role in this past fall’s Creed, Tessa Thompson may be making the science-fiction film Annihilation her next project.

The Wrap is reporting that the actress is n early negotiations for a role in the film which will be director Alex Garland’s follow up to his highly praised science-fiction thriller Ex Machina, from last spring. The Wrap is citing several sources “familiar with the Paramount project,” though of course the studio and Thompson’s reps have declined to confirm or deny the story.

If she signs, Thompson will join Natalie Portman and Gina Rodriguez as scientists who journey into an unexplored region where several other expeditions have failed to return from. The film is based on Jeff VanderMeer’s novel of the same name. It is the first volume in the author’s Southern Reach Trilogy, so if the film succeeds it could lead to a nice, if short, franchise for Thompson.

Thompson has been carving out a pretty good career for herself over the last several years. Her work in the 2014 indie comedy Dear White People led to her getting a role in last year’s Selma. Coming up on 2016, she will be seen in the drama Salt Water and the comedy War On Everyone in addition to several episodes of HBO’s series adaption of the classic science-fiction thriller Westworld.

Production is expected to start in the spring for an undetermined 2017 release.