Jude Law is in negotiations to join “Scapegoat,” the next feature from writer-director Ari Aster, according to reports published Sept. 23. The film would add Law to a cast headed by Scarlett Johansson and Jacob Elordi, and it continues Aster’s run of projects with the studio A24. Johansson, who also opened the New York Film Festival this month in James Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” would headline the picture.
In the days that followed, the ensemble grew. Ella Purnell, Caleb Landry Jones and Samba Schutte were reported to have joined the production, filling out a lineup that has taken shape quickly around Aster’s script. The rapid additions suggested the film was nearing its start, with roles being locked in over a short span. Law’s deal had not closed as of the reports, leaving his involvement pending final terms. The casting news drew wide coverage given Aster’s profile and the pairing of Johansson and Elordi.
Details of the story remain closely held. Neither the studio nor the filmmakers disclosed plot or character information, and early descriptions circulating in the trades amounted to speculation. Aster is directing from his own screenplay, with Lars Knudsen producing through the Square Peg banner he runs with the director. Square Peg has been Aster’s producing home for his recent work, and the company develops projects for other filmmakers as well.
“Scapegoat” would be Aster’s fifth feature, and each of his films has been made with A24, the company behind “Hereditary,” “Midsommar,” “Beau Is Afraid” and “Eddington.” The partnership has become one of the more consistent director-studio relationships in current independent film. Those films established Aster as a leading voice in elevated horror and unsettling drama.
Production is expected to begin in November, according to the reports. The casting activity places “Scapegoat” among the more closely watched projects moving toward cameras this fall, with a starry lineup and a filmmaker whose recent releases have drawn steady attention. Additional casting continued into late September as the production ramped up, and no release date has been set. A24 has not commented on the reports, and representatives for the actors did not confirm terms.
