Watch Natalie Portman in First Trailer for Alex Garland’s ANNIHILATION September 28, 2017 Based on JeffVanderMeer’s 2014 novel, the first book in the Southern Reach trilogy, ANNIHILATION stars Natalie Portman as a biologist who signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don’t apply. Irish release date is February 23, 2018.