Jacob Elordi is in negotiations to join Scarlett Johansson in “Scapegoat,” the next film from writer-director Ari Aster at A24, according to a person familiar with the discussions. The talks began within the past week, and Elordi has not yet closed a deal for the project.
Aster wrote and will direct “Scapegoat,” his fifth consecutive film to land at A24 following “Hereditary,” “Midsommar,” “Beau Is Afraid” and “Eddington.” He and producing partner Lars Knudsen will produce through their Square Peg banner. Johansson’s attachment to the lead role was announced in May, though the studio has released no official plot details.
Multiple accounts describe conflicting versions of the story, with some sources pointing to a plot involving a surgeon whose career unravels after a social media influencer dies during an operation, while others describe the project as science-fiction romance or a more conventional drama.
Elordi earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and has built momentum with roles in “Euphoria,” “Priscilla” and “Saltburn.” He is currently awaiting the August 28 release of Ridley Scott’s survival thriller “The Dog Stars,” in which he stars alongside Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley. Should the “Scapegoat” deal close, it would mark his first new project announced since that film’s completion, and he has also been named among the candidates reportedly auditioning for James Bond this month.
Johansson’s schedule remains packed beyond “Scapegoat.” She has festival title “Paper Tiger” from James Gray and Brad Bird’s animated feature “Ray Gunn” on the way, alongside Mike Flanagan’s “The Exorcist: Martyrs,” which relaunches that franchise. She is also set to join Robert Pattinson, Jeffrey Wright and Sebastian Stan in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman: Part II,” and remains linked to a sequel in the “Jurassic World” franchise following director Gareth Edwards’ exit over creative differences.
