Jacob Elordi Circling Ari Aster’s A24 Film with Scarlett

The "Euphoria" star is in early talks to join the A24 project, which would pair him with the acclaimed horror director and the Oscar-nominated lead of "Lost in Translation." While a deal is not yet finalized, industry insiders say Elordi has emerged as the frontrunner for a key role opposite Johansson, marking a potential first collaboration between the two actors and a significant step into prestige genre filmmaking for the Australian performer.

Ari Aster, the filmmaker behind "Hereditary" and "Midsommar," has been quietly developing this follow-up to his 2023 epic "Beau Is Afraid" for some time. The project, shrouded in the usual secrecy that accompanies his work, represents his third feature with A24, the studio that has backed his entire career to date. For Johansson, who has recently balanced blockbuster fare with indie dramas, the film would offer another opportunity to work with a director known for pushing actors into uncomfortable, psychologically fraught territory. Casting details beyond the two leads remain under wraps, and the plot is being kept tightly under lock and key, a standard practice for Aster, who has yet to reveal even the basic premise.

At 29, Elordi has been on a hot streak of high-profile choices, moving from the HBO phenomenon "Euphoria" into a series of roles that have showcased his range beyond teen heartthrob status. He earned critical praise for his turn as Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppola's "Priscilla," and has since appeared in the crime drama "The Sweet East" and the Amazon thriller "Oh, Canada." He is also attached to the upcoming "Wuthering Heights" adaptation from Emerald Fennell, which has generated considerable buzz at Cannes. A role in an Ari Aster film would represent an entirely different kind of challenge - one that often demands immense emotional endurance and a willingness to embrace the surreal.

The director's reputation precedes him. His 2018 debut, "Hereditary," redefined modern horror with its portrayal of familial grief spiraling into supernatural terror, earning a place in the conversation for the genre's best of the decade. "Midsommar," released the following year, traded the dark house for the blinding Scandinavian sun, delivering a breakup story disguised as a folk-horror ritual. Both films were produced by A24 and turned their respective lead actors - Toni Collette and Florence Pugh - into overnight awards-season talking points. Aster's last film, the ambitious, nearly three-hour "Beau Is Afraid," divided audiences and critics alike, but confirmed his status as a filmmaker who will never take the easy path.

Johansson, meanwhile, has been noticeably selective in her recent project picks. She earned her second Oscar nomination for "Marriage Story" and starred in "Jojo Rabbit," but has since pivoted between the Marvel machinery of "Black Widow" and the alienated intimacy of Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City." A move into Aster's world suggests she is looking for material that demands a more volatile, raw performance - something her past collaborations with auteurs like Jonathan Glazer and Christopher Nolan have shown she can deliver. The combination of her star power and Aster's uncompromising vision could give the film the kind of commercial visibility his earlier work generated, while retaining the artistic credibility that A24 prizes above all.

Elordi's potential involvement adds a generational shift to the project. He would be the youngest major cast member, slotting into a space that Aster has often filled with veterans. It is a risky but logical move for the actor, who has shown an appetite for working with female directors known for their sharp visual voices - Coppola, Fennell - and now might add one of the most distinctive male auteurs of his generation. The contrast between Johansson's established Hollywood pedigree and Elordi's rising indie cred could create an on-screen dynamic that feeds directly into Aster's fascination with fractured relationships and simmering tension.

No production timeline has been confirmed, and with the ongoing shifts in release scheduling across the industry, a start date remains speculative. A24 has not offered any official comment, consistent with the studio's preference for letting the work speak for itself. But the prospect of this trio - Aster behind the camera, Johansson as the anchor, and Elordi as the wildcard - has already become one of the most anticipated packages in Hollywood's development pipeline. For now, it is a circle, as the headline suggests, not a lock. But the gravitational pull of an Aster film tends to bring things into orbit eventually, and Elordi looks poised to be the next one sucked in.

Source: Deadline