Joaquin Phoenix Reportedly in Talks to Star in Ari Aster’s Next Horror Film
According to Discussing Film, Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix has reportedly entered negotiations for the leading role in director Ari Aster’s next horror film titled Beau is Afraid. This project will mark the Aster’s third directorial project to date after previously working on two acclaimed films: 2018’s Hereditary starring Toni Collette, and 2019’s Midsommar starring Florence Pugh.
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Beau is Afraid is being described as a surrealist horror film that will reportedly center around an extremely anxious but pleasant-looking man named Beau, who has a fraught relationship with his overbearing mother due to the absence of a father he never met.
The film’s synopsis reads: “Beau learns of the death of his mother under mysterious circumstances and upon traveling home makes an alarming discovery about his past. During his journey, he runs into various crazy supernatural threats.”
This project will again be written, directed and produced by Ari Aster through his Square Peg production company banner. There is currently no distributor attached to the film but it is very likely that A24 would be willing to acquire the project after teaming up with Aster on his previous films.
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Phoenix is best known for his critically acclaimed performances in films such as Gladiator, Walk the Line, The Master, Her, You Were Never Really Here, and Joker with the latter earning him his first Oscar win for Best Actor.
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