Elordi in talks for Aster film with Johansson at A24

Jacob Elordi is in talks to star opposite Scarlett Johansson in Ari Aster’s upcoming thriller Scapegoat, according to sources close to the production. The film will mark Elordi’s first major role since wrapping the third season of Euphoria and taking a break from acting. A24, which has distributed nearly every project Aster has directed, will produce the film. Johansson, who hasn’t starred in a thriller since Marriage Story in 2019, would bring star power to a genre that has become A24’s signature.

Scapegoat follows a man who discovers his entire life has been a lie after a stranger reveals a dark family secret. Aster’s script leans into psychological horror and unreliable narrators, a formula that has earned him two Oscar nominations for Hereditary and Midsommar. Johansson’s casting suggests a shift toward high-profile genre films, a move she made with Under the Skin in 2013 and Ghost in the Shell in 2017. Elordi, meanwhile, has been quietly building a reputation as a dramatic actor after his breakout in Saltburn, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

The film is still in early development, with no confirmed start date. Sources say Aster is finalizing the script and could begin casting additional roles within months. If Johansson signs on, she would join a cast that could include relative newcomers to balance the film’s $20 million budget. A24 typically films in the U.S. but has shot internationally in the past, including Sweden for Midsommar.

If Scapegoat comes together, it could mark a major moment for both Aster and Johansson. Aster has never directed a film with A-list stars, and Johansson has rarely taken on horror or thriller roles in recent years. The film could also give Elordi his biggest mainstream break yet, positioning him as a leading man in prestige horror. A24 will likely position the film as a return to form for Aster after the divisive Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which underperformed at the box office.