EXCLUSIVE: Cory Michael Smith is the latest to join the ensemble of Ari Aster’s next thriller Scapegoat starring Scarlett Johansson. The film also stars Jacob Elordi, Jude Law, Ella Purnell, Caleb Landry Jones, and Samba Schutte. Aster is directing from a script he wrote. A24, who has released Aster’s past four films, is the distributor.
Aster and partner Lars Knudsen will produce through their Square Peg banner.
While the plot is being kept under wraps, some have speculated that it’s about a doctor who operates on an internet-famous person. Others say it’s sci-fi romance, and some have said it’s more of a traditional drama for Aster. As of now, there is no consensus on the movie’s details, according to insiders.
Deadline first reported earlier this year that this would be Aster’s next film after the director had taken his time deciding on what would be his follow-up to Eddington.
Smith is coming off his critically acclaimed performance in the HBO movie Mountatinhead, which also starred Steve Carell and Ramy Youssef. He can currently be seen opposite Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson in The Sun Never Sets.
Next up, he has the A24 pic Slayground from director Jeremy Saulnier. That film bows January 29. He Is repped ny UTA and Circel M&P.