Jude Law Joins Ari Aster’s ‘Scapegoat’ Cast as Mystery Surrounds Film

Ari Aster has established himself as a filmmaker who keeps audiences guessing. With ‘Hereditary’ marking his emergence as a significant horror voice, grossing around $90 million, he followed up with ‘Midsommar,’ ‘Beau Is Afraid,’ and ‘Eddington.’ Now, ‘Scapegoat’ is set to be his fifth collaboration with A24.

From the outset, the film has been shrouded in secrecy. Aster is not only directing but also producing alongside Lars Knudsen through their Square Peg banner. While official plot details remain undisclosed, speculation has ranged from a medical thriller to a sci-fi romance to a more conventional drama.

The latest addition to the cast comes from Deadline, which reported on Wednesday that Jude Law is in negotiations to co-star with Scarlett Johansson in the A24 thriller. Although the deal is not yet finalized, social media has already begun to treat it as a certainty. Law joins a cast that also includes Jacob Elordi, who was reported to be in talks back in August.

Law has been quite active recently, with ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ and the Emmy-nominated Netflix limited series ‘Black Rabbit’ both debuting in the past year. His involvement adds significant star power to Aster’s film, which still lacks an official synopsis.

Johansson was reportedly Aster’s top choice for the lead role, and Deadline noted that he spent the latter half of last year crafting the script with her in mind. Elordi’s casting followed a similar path, as Aster had him specifically in mind for his role, and the actor took his time selecting his next project after a demanding nine-month shoot on ‘Frankenstein’ that earned him an Oscar nomination.

Elordi has enjoyed a successful run since then, with ‘Wuthering Heights’ grossing over $240 million worldwide, and he recently wrapped ‘Euphoria’ this spring. His next film, Ridley Scott’s ‘The Dog Stars,’ is set to release on August 28.

Rumors surrounding the plot have become intriguing. Nexus Point News reported in June that Johansson would portray a surgeon who operates on a character inspired by Jake Paul, who dies during the procedure. The narrative would then explore the aftermath as the surgeon faces scrutiny from the deceased’s wife and brother, reportedly based on real-life figures.

None of these details have been confirmed by A24 or Aster, and Deadline’s reporting indicates that insiders still lack a consensus on the film’s specifics. However, it aligns with Aster’s previous works. ‘Eddington’ tackled contemporary chaos, and Aster has hinted at a potential spiritual sequel, suggesting a social-media-era drama about public outrage could be a fitting next step.

The production schedule appears to be taking shape. A casting grid shared by World of Reel indicated that filming is expected to commence in Atlanta in November, with Darius Khondji returning as cinematographer. Aster himself mentioned during a Q&A at the American Cinematheque in June that he would be shooting something in November, which The Playlist linked to this project.

Johansson’s schedule has influenced the timeline. She recently completed Mike Flanagan’s ‘The Exorcist’ and is currently filming ‘The Batman: Part II,’ so ‘Scapegoat’ has been arranged around these commitments. No release date has been announced yet, but the timeline suggests a possible arrival in 2027 at the earliest.

A24 films are known for their ambition, but few come with as much intrigue as this one. Aster’s audience has come to expect the unexpected, and the casting of Johansson, Elordi, and Law hints at a heavyweight ensemble piece rather than a straightforward genre film. The mystery surrounding the plot only heightens the anticipation.

If the deal is finalized, ‘Scapegoat’ will unite three of the most sought-after actors in the industry with one of the most provocative and captivating directors in American cinema.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.