News is breaking tonight that Ari Aster is deep at work on his next horror film. After his master work with Hereditary and Midsommar, it appears that he is going to make another pass at the darker realms with a new film called Beau is Afraid. And it looks like Joker star Joaquin Phoenix is just about set to board the film as its central character. Several sites are reporting tonight that Phoenix is very interested in taking up another leading role and Aster's newest looks to be where he's heading. He's described it as a four hour "nightmare comedy" and is working closely with Phoenix to get the project in front of cameras.The film has been in some type of development since 2011 and is based on an Aster short that was simply titled Beau.
After two cult hit horror films, Aster has definitely built a reputation as one of the genre's best and will continue to build a resume in the genre. The movie is described as "surrealist horror film set in an alternate present". Phoenix's character will be an "extremely anxious but pleasant looking man who has a fraught relationship with his overbearing mother and never knew his father". After the death of his mother he comes home and experiences a supernatural presence that will be deemed a threat.
This would be another breakaway role for Phoenix who is continually looking for different and dynamic characters. We're obviously excited. Both of Aster's last films were amazing.
-CG