‘Fallout’ Star Ella Purnell Joins Ari Aster’s New Thriller ‘Scapegoat’ with Scarlett Johansson

Ari Aster has established a unique reputation in modern filmmaking by keeping audiences intrigued until the very last moment. From the unsettling tension of ‘Hereditary’ to the bizarre narrative of ‘Beau Is Afraid,’ the director is known for revealing minimal information about his projects during their development.

His upcoming A24 thriller, titled ‘Scapegoat,’ adheres to this same strategy, with casting announcements trickling in before any plot specifics have been disclosed. The intrigue surrounding the film has only intensified as the cast has expanded significantly in recent weeks.

The latest casting news adds significant star power to the project. ‘Fallout’ lead Ella Purnell has officially joined the cast of ‘Scapegoat,’ alongside newcomers Caleb Landry Jones and Samba Schutte, as reported by Deadline. They join a lineup that already features Scarlett Johansson, Jacob Elordi, and Jude Law.

Details about the characters for the new additions remain undisclosed, consistent with Aster’s approach to previous casting announcements for this project. Purnell comes with a strong recent track record, currently leading both Prime Video’s ‘Fallout’ and Sky Atlantic’s dark comedy ‘Sweetpea,’ which is set to return for its second season in November.

Landry Jones, recognized for his intense performances in films like ‘Get Out’ and ‘Nitram,’ adds another layer of depth to the cast. Schutte, who recently gained attention for his role in ‘Pluribus,’ completes a trio that provides Aster with considerable versatility once character details are eventually revealed.

Aster is both writing and directing the film, continuing his collaboration with producing partner Lars Knudsen through their Square Peg banner. A24, which has distributed all of Aster’s films thus far, is once again involved in the release, maintaining his creative partnership with the studio.

Despite the expanding cast, Aster and A24 have shared very little official information regarding the plot. Speculation has ranged from a science fiction romance to a more conventional drama, but one theory has gained more traction in recent discussions.

According to this popular theory, the film centers on a surgeon, portrayed by Johansson, whose career spirals after performing surgery on a character inspired by an internet-famous influencer turned boxer resembling Jake Paul. The operation reportedly goes awry, leading to the patient’s death and a series of consequences the surgeon must navigate.

Elordi is rumored to play a family member of the influencer character, possibly a brother, who begins to seek answers as public outrage over the death escalates. None of this has been officially confirmed by Aster or A24, so the specifics remain speculative until the studio provides further information.

‘Scapegoat’ will be Aster’s fifth feature film following ‘Hereditary,’ ‘Midsommar,’ ‘Beau Is Afraid,’ and ‘Eddington,’ and it also marks his first collaboration with Johansson. Production is anticipated to start in November, with cinematographer Darius Khondji, known for his recent work on ‘Marty Supreme,’ returning to film the project.

With such a talented cast and a director committed to secrecy, ‘Scapegoat’ is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated mystery projects as we head into next year.

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