Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1970-05-26
- Born Place: London, England, UK
Also Known As:
Alexander Medawar Garland, Alexander Garland
Alex Garland
Alexander Medawar "Alex" Garland (born May 26, 1970) is an acclaimed English novelist, screenwriter, and director known for his distinctive work, particularly within the science fiction and horror genres, often exploring themes of technology, utopia, and societal collapse. He initially rose to prominence as an author with his bestselling 1996 debut novel, The Beach, a story about young backpackers searching for a secluded island paradise, which was later adapted into a 2000 film. Garland made a successful transition to screenwriting with the post-apocalyptic horror film 28 Days Later... (2002), directed by his frequent collaborator Danny Boyle, which is widely credited with revitalizing the zombie genre. He continued his partnership with Boyle, writing the screenplay for the space thriller Sunshine (2007). His other notable screenplays include the adaptations of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel Never Let Me Go (2010) and the comic book film Dredd (2012). In 2014, Garland made his directorial debut with the critically celebrated science fiction thriller Ex Machina, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. He went on to write and direct the mind-bending sci-fi horror film Annihilation (2018), the television miniseries Devs (2020), the folk-horror film Men (2022), and the dystopian action-thriller Civil War (2024). Garland has also worked in video games, notably co-writing Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (2010). He is currently a writer and producer for the renewed 28 Days Later trilogy, including the upcoming films 28 Years Later (2025) and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026).
