After carefully considering his next original feature, Ari Aster has not only zeroed in on the project but also secured a top-tier star to lead it. Deadline has learned from sources that Aster will be directing 'Scapegoat,' a film based on a script he penned, and starring Scarlett Johansson. According to insiders, Aster will reunite with A24, who has released his last four films, as the distributor.
Aster, whose satire 'Eddington' premiered at Cannes last year, and his partner Lars Knudsen will produce through their Square Peg banner. As with all of Aster's films, plot details are being kept under wraps.
Since the release of his hit horror film 'Hereditary,' Aster's scripts have always drawn attention for their originality and uniqueness. After spending the end of last year writing 'Scapegoat,' it became his original script, and Johansson was his top choice to star in the film. This was no easy task, as the Oscar nominee already had a busy shooting schedule lined up for 2026, including starring in the next 'Exorcist' film at Universal and shooting the next 'Batman' sequel opposite Robert Pattinson later this summer.
Sources say that after reading the script, Johansson was eager to star in the film, and producers were on board for a shoot later this year to accommodate her busy schedule.
Johansson had a similarly busy 2025, including helping to relaunch the 'Jurassic World' franchise with 'Jurassic World: Rebirth.' The film, which hit theaters in July, grossed $868M worldwide and has a sequel in the works.
Johansson recently made her directorial debut with the Sony Pictures Classics drama 'Eleanor the Great,' which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Next up, she can be seen in the James Gray film 'Paper Tiger' opposite Miles Teller and Adam Driver. That film will also premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
