Ari Aster's ‘Scapegoat' Has Started Shooting in New York City

It's happening. Two crew members have told me that Ari Aster's "Scapegoat" has officially begun production in New York City.

This is a slight change of plans. Back in May, a circulating casting grid had the A24 film starting its shoot in Atlanta, but that might only be the next stop after NYC. Either way, cameras are rolling.

Darius Khondji is back behind the camera as DP, fresh off "Marty Supreme." That's a pairing that should give this thing Aster’s usual very specific, unnerving texture. Bobby Krlic is back to compose his fourth straight Aster movie.

Now, plot details still haven't been officially confirmed. There's only been speculation, and the trades haven't been able to verify anything. Some have claimed it's a return to horror, while others have theorized it could be sci-fi, but the rumors are slowly pointing toward another statement on modern-day America — which is its own kind of horror movie.

Here's what I’ve heard. Scarlett Johansson is supposed to play a surgeon whose career and reputation come under siege after a popular social media influencer dies during a routine operation. Public outrage grows, which leads to the influencer's grieving widow and protective brother turning their search for answers into something far more mitant. The characters are reportedly inspired by Erika Kirk and Logan Paul, with the influencer himself modeled on Jake Paul.

So, yes, if you thought "Eddington" was Aster tackling the zeitgeist, our endless doom scrolling online, well, he’s basically doubling down here. “Scapegoat” looks like the "spiritual sequel" he hinted at last year.

The cast includes Johansson, Jacob Elordi, Jude Law, Caleb Landry Jones, Ella Purnell, Cory Michael Smith, and Samba Schutte ("Pluribus"). Aster wrote the script and produces with Lars Knudsen through Square Peg.

"Scapegoat" will be Aster's fifth feature after "Hereditary," "Midsommar," "Beau Is Afraid," and "Eddington," all with A24. With a November start, a 2027 release seems possible, festival-wise or maybe they wait it out a bit.