Oscar nominee Jacob Elordi is set to co-star opposite Scarlett Johansson in “Scapegoat,” the upcoming thriller from Ari Aster, who is directing from his own script. A24, which has released his past four films, is set to distribute.
Elordi’s stock has certainly risen in recent years thanks to “Euphoria,” “Priscilla,” “Saltburn,” and “Frankenstein,” the latter of which earned him an Oscar nomination. He’s also rumored to be one of the finalists to audition for Bond this month.
No plot details have been confirmed, but I’ve heard the film is about a surgeon (Scarlett Johansson) whose career comes under scrutiny after a popular social media influencer dies during a routine operation. The influencer’s grieving widow and brother (Elordi?) reportedly begin looking for answers, and the situation escalates as public outrage grows.
Grieving widow. Social media influencer. Public outrage. Yeah, if true, this sounds like the spiritual sequel to “Eddington” that Aster was talking about last year. He wants to continue making movies about the toxicity of current society. That’s what fascinates him at the moment.
According to Deadline, more casting, including another key role, is expected to be announced in the coming weeks as the project continues to take shape. The film is currently eyeing a November production start.
Furthermore, Darius Khondji will be back as DP — his last credit was cinematography on “Marty Supreme.” So, we might be seeing this A24-produced film in 2027. Great news for Aster-heads, and somehow, Johansson managed to sneak this one into her increasingly busy schedule.
“Scapegoat” is set to be Aster’s fifth feature after “Hereditary,” “Midsommar,” “Beau Is Afraid,” and “Eddington” — all produced by A24. It’s hard not to root for him. In an era where so few filmmakers are allowed to play with real budgets and real ambition, Aster remains one of the few U.S. directors swinging for the fences.
For Haigh, the film feels like an “endpoint” in his career so far. Shot on film with DP André Turpin, “A Long Winter” was filmed in the Calgary wilderness, the same area used for “The Revenant.”