Ari Aster, writer-director of critically-acclaimed horrors Midsommar and Hereditary, will be teaming up with Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix on his newest project, titled Disappointment Blvd.

Having provided a home for both of Aster’s feature films, it is likely no surprise that A24 is confirmed to finance and produce this upcoming project. Aster and Lars Knudsen are also attached to produce under their Square Peg banner.

Though little is known about the horror filmmaker’s most recent endeavour, the story has been described as “an intimate, decades-spanning portrait of one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time.” Aster had mentioned back in July 2020 that his next movie would be a “nightmare comedy” and that it was “gonna be four-hours long”. Whether or not Disappointment Blvd. is the same movie Aster was referring to remains to be seen.

This will likely mark Phoenix’s first project since his Oscar-winning performance in Todd Phillips’ Joker. Though he will be next seen in Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon (which will also be distributed by A24), shooting had taken place in 2019 prior to receiving the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Phoenix also has a project in the works with director Ridley Scott: Kitbag will see him star as Napoleon Bonaparte, though production is unlikely to begin before 2022. This will mark the first time Phoenix and Ridley have reunited since Gladiator in 2000. Considering Phoenix’s reputation for being highly selective with his projects, and paired with the fact the actor is in high demand since his portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime, his attachment to Disappointment Blvd. is a promising endorsement of Ari Aster’s latest.

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