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Ari Aster to Direct Scarlett Johansson in A24’s “Scapegoat”

5/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Ari Aster will write, direct and produce Scapegoat starring Scarlett Johansson, with A24 slated to distribute.
Production targets a late-2026 start to accommodate Johansson’s Exorcist reboot (shooting began March 2026) and the Batman sequel slated for summer 2026.
Aster will co-produce the film with Lars Knudsen through their Square Peg banner.

History

Historical Context

In 2018 Ari Aster’s debut feature Hereditary premiered at Sundance and earned $82.8 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, becoming A24’s highest-grossing film until 2024. That breakthrough cemented A24’s model of pairing auteur directors with strong casts, a strategy it continues with later horror projects. Its 2,964-theater release set a new A24 distribution scale, illustrating the company’s push into wide-release horror.

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Story summary

Ari Aster will write, direct and produce Scapegoat starring Scarlett Johansson, with A24 slated to distribute.
Production targets a late-2026 start to accommodate Johansson’s Exorcist reboot (shooting began March 2026) and the Batman sequel slated for summer 2026.
Aster will co-produce the film with Lars Knudsen through their Square Peg banner.

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