Ari Aster's *Scapegoat* to Star Scarlett Johansson in Upcoming A24 Film

Ari Aster will write, direct and produce the feature *Scapegoat* for A24, with Oscar-nominee Scarlett Johansson confirmed as the film’s star. Production is slated for a late-2026 shoot to fit Johansson’s commitments on a *Exorcist* reboot, a *Batman* sequel and James Gray’s *Paper Tiger*.

Just Jared

Aster’s partnership with A24 began with the horror debut *Hereditary* (2018) and continued through *Midsommar* (2019), *Beau Is Afraid* (2023) and the neo-Western *Eddington* (2024). While his recent work has moved beyond pure horror, he maintains a practice of keeping plot details secret until release.

Scarlett Johansson To Star In Ari Aster's Next Movie Scapegoat

Aster completed the *Scapegoat* script by late 2025. After reading it, Johansson agreed to star, prompting producers Lars Knudsen and Aster’s Square Peg banner to schedule filming for late 2026. The plan avoids overlap with the *Exorcist* shoot that began March 2026 and the *Batman* production slated for summer 2026. A24 will distribute; Aster is represented by WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, while Johansson is represented by CAA and Yorn Levine LLC.

Deadline Hollywood

Pairing a global star with an auteur-driven indie film could expand A24’s box-office reach and reinforce Johansson’s shift toward auteur cinema. Observers note she recently fell behind Zoe Saldaña for highest-grossing star status; a successful *Scapegoat* could narrow that gap.

Express Tribune

Sources say Johansson was “all in” after reading the script and that producers will accommodate her schedule. Aster will helm the project through Square Peg, and A24 will handle distribution. No plot details have been released.

Deadline Hollywood

Source 1 lists Johansson’s 2025 blockbuster as *Jurassic World: Rebirth* with a $868 million gross; Source 2 calls it *Jurassic World: Dominion*. Source 2 also mentions a Wes Anderson film *The Phoenician Scheme* not cited elsewhere. No confirmed start date beyond “late 2026,” and plot specifics remain undisclosed. Reliability scores vary, with some sources lacking any rating.

Scarlett Johansson To Star In Ari Aster's Next Movie Scapegoat

• “after reading the script, Johansson was all in on starring in the film and producers were on board for a shoot later this year to accommodate her busy schedule.” — Deadline

Just Jared

• “A black alien from behind holding Scarlett Johansson's face in Under the Skin Interestingly, sources report that Johansson was so engaged by Aster's script for Scapegoat that she is also very keen to get to work on the film sooner than later, with production reportedly eyeing a late 2026 start.” — ScreenRant

Scarlett Johansson To Star In Ari Aster's Next Movie Scapegoat

• “Watch on Deadline After spending the end of last year writing, Scapegoat became his original script and his top choice to star in the film was Johansson.” — Deadline

Deadline Hollywood

• “Insiders add that Aster will reunite with A24, who has released his past four films, as the distributor.” — Deadline

Deadline Hollywood

Johansson will appear next in the *Exorcist* reboot, the *Batman* sequel and *Paper Tiger* at Cannes. Aster is set to begin pre-production on *Scapegoat* later this year, while A24 readies its upcoming auteur-driven slate.

Deadline Hollywood