Ari Aster's Upcoming Film "Scapegoat" Stars Scarlett Johansson
By Published May 6, 2026, 12:57 PM EDT Grant Hermanns is a TV News Editor, Interview Host and Reviewer for ScreenRant, having joined the team in early 2026. He got his start in the industry with Moviepilot, followed by working at ComingSoon.net. When not indulging in his love of film/TV, Grant is making his way through his gaming backlog and exploring the world of Dungeons & Dragons with friends. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Ari Aster's mysterious next project is gaining steam as has joined the cast of Scapegoat.
one of the breakout filmmakers in the indie horror genre sphere following his feature debut with the Toni Collette-starring Hereditary, which was a critical and commercial smash. After following it up with the Florence Pugh-led folk horror hit Midsommar, the filmmaker has expanded to other genres with the Joaquin Phoenix-led tragicomedy Beau is Afraid and Western satire Eddington, both of which polarized critics and audiences alike.
As first reported by Deadline, Johansson is the first to join the cast of Ari Aster's next movie. At the time of writing, no plot details have been shared about the project, though sources report that Aster will continue his working relationship with A24 to release the film, which he both wrote and is going to direct. He will also produce with his creative partner Lars Knudsen through their Square Peg banner.
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. Part of the reason for the later start is to work around her busy schedule with , which began shooting in March 2026, and the upcoming Batman: Part II, which is said to begin shooting in the summer.
Aster teaming up with Johansson for Scapegoat continues his recent trend of teaming with major A-list actors for his projects. While after their previous film earned him a Golden Globe nomination, it also saw him put together his biggest cast yet with Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler and Emma Stone.
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Scarlett Johansson’s filmography is full of movies that stand out for critical response, audience reaction, box office performance, and other factors.
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In addition to being her first project with Aster, Scapegoat also marks Johansson's first reunion with A24 in 13 years. The two-time Oscar nominee previously led the adaptation of the , which underperformed at the box office, but became a critical hit, landing on multiple best-of-the-decade horror and sci-fi lists for the decade.
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Though Johansson has largely stuck to blockbuster projects in the decade since, including the hit Jurassic World Rebirth and its in-development sequel, Scapegoat does continue her trend of keeping a presence in the more indie-focused sphere. From her frequent collaborations with Wes Anderson to and her own directorial debut with Eleanor the Great, it's clear Johansson is engaged by a variety of storytellers.
Scarlett Johansson is an American actor known for leading roles in both blockbuster franchises and dramatic films. She is widely recognized for portraying Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and received critical acclaim for performances in Lost in Translation, Marriage Story, and Jojo Rabbit. She has also worked as a singer and stage performer.
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