A new movie trailer has sparked concern that an unsettling prediction of the future may come to pass. The trailer for “Civil War,” set to be released in 2024, hints at a full-scale civil war erupting in the United States. The action-packed and tense trailer depicts familiar elements of civil war, such as secession and neutrality, as well as more disturbing scenes of violence and chaos. The director of the film has described it as a contemporary war movie, and the timing of its release, just before the 2024 election, has raised suspicion and criticism.
As the trailer begins, the voices of radio announcers set the scene for the movie’s events, providing urgent updates on the state of the country: “Nineteen states have seceded,” “The United States Army ramps up activity,” and “The White House issued warnings to the Western Forces as well as the Florida Alliance.” This immediately sets a tone of tension and unrest, signaling that things are spiraling out of control.
Looks to me like they are trying to normalize something.
Or make Americans believe that the US government would air strike American citizens.
Propaganda in some capacity.
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) December 13, 2023
In this chaotic setting, we are introduced to the film’s protagonist, a war correspondent played by Kirsten Dunst. She, along with two other individuals, are seen entering a clothing store, where her male companion remarks on the widespread civil war all across America. However, the store owner’s response is one of neutrality, choosing to stay out of the conflict for the sake of peace. This presents another element of civil war – the struggle for individuals and businesses to remain neutral in a divided landscape.
Things grow darker and more confusing as the trailer progresses. The American flag is shown with two larger stars instead of the traditional 50, hinting at a divided nation. The three-term president, played by Nick Offerman, speaks in a stern and commanding tone, highlighting the severity of the situation. He assures the public that the uprising will be dealt with swiftly while also indicating the use of airstrikes against American citizens. This is followed by a tense encounter with a soldier, who asks the chilling question, “What kind of American are you?”
As the action scenes and dramatic music dominate the rest of the trailer, the words “ALL. EMPIRES. FALL.” flash across the screen. The three-term president concludes with the familiar words “One nation. Under God. Indivisible,” before screams are heard in the background. The trailer ends with the film’s release date, April 26, leaving viewers to ponder the unsettling events they have just witnessed.
Upon the release of the trailer, social media exploded with reactions, many expressing suspicion about the film’s timing and its connections to current political events. Some, like prominent Twitter account Clandestine, even see it as a form of propaganda: “Looks to me like they are trying to normalize something… Propaganda in some capacity.” Others, like Twitter user DC_Draino, highlight the hypocrisy of Hollywood in producing a film about civil war while simultaneously condemning political division in the country.
First Obama’s Cyberattack movie and now this. Think they’re trying to tell us something? #civilwar releases April 2024 pic.twitter.com/9Zg0omLI6x
— The Prepared Homestead (@ThePreparedHom1) December 13, 2023
The timing of the film’s release, just before the 2024 election, is unsettling, especially in light of the events of 2020 and the continuing political division in the country.
Why on earth would a former president of the United States be behind a movie that envisions the destruction of America and civil war? #diamondandsilk https://t.co/DAjUQx5BQN
— Diamond and Silk® (@DiamondandSilk) December 12, 2023
And while the plot of “Civil War” may not necessarily be derived from current political realities, it still strikes a nerve with viewers due to the increasing polarization in the United States. As the movie’s tagline, “In this land, anything is possible,” implies, the lines between fiction and reality may not be as clear-cut as we once thought.
Civil war is never something to be taken lightly and must be avoided at all costs. Let us pray that art does not anticipate life in this case.