David Gyasi "gutted" Annihilation skipped UK cinemas

Ben Lee
Updated
Photo credit: Netflix
Photo credit: Netflix

From Digital Spy

Annihilation actor David Gyasi has spoken of his "sadness" that the movie has skipped UK cinemas and went straight to Netflix.

But he told Digital Spy that – while he would have loved to have had a big-screen experience with the film and is "gutted" to have missed out on that – he understands the decision behind the move.

Annihilation, which has had rave reviews and also stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, and Tessa Thompson, received a cinema release in the US, Canada, and China. It launched on Netflix internationally.

Photo credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage - Getty
Photo credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage - Getty

"I was unable to get to the screening because I was out of the country, so I don't think I'll get to see it first on the big screen," Gyasi said. "So personally, I'm gutted about that.

"I understand the logic as to why a film like that goes straight to Netflix. It's a bit like the Beasts of No Nation scenario... The way the movie-viewing public and audience are shifting towards staying in and watching things – as an industry, we're trying to react to that."

Related: Troy: Fall of a City's David Gyasi responds to critics of his casting as Achilles

Gyasi said that he felt Annihilation would have offered something rather unique for those in the cinema, although he acknowledged that it may prove to be a success on Netflix.

"I feel like Annihilation is something that will make people think," he explained. "It will stimulate a lot of discussion, and it would have been a real opportunity to put something like that on the big screen and to challenge the moviegoers, perhaps.

Photo credit: BBC/Wild Mercury Productions
Photo credit: BBC/Wild Mercury Productions

[Above: David Gyasi plays Achilles in Troy: Fall of a City]

"There is a bit of sadness. Having said that, it's difficult because we will only really know [how successful it is on Netflix] if there is a way of finding out the amount of people who get to see it.

"What it has done, from what I've heard from people who have seen it, is there's been such a positive reaction to it, and I'm not sure if it's because it's a specific person who will seek out a film like that and seek to be stimulated in that way.

"But again, we're in interesting times."

Annihilation is available to watch on Netflix.

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