Beau Is Afraid (2023)

[Cremildo]

Film fans, prepare for a splendid collaboration between two icons. Joaquin Phoenix is in talks to star in Ari Aster’s upcoming film Beau is Afraid.

Per sources, the film was described to me as a surrealist horror film set in an alternate present. If Joaquin Phoenix signs on, he will play the lead role of Beau. Beau is described as an extremely anxious but pleasant-looking man who has a fraught relationship with his overbearing mother, their relationship is affected from the fact that he never knew his father.

This will likely be Ari Aster’s next film with the project said to be a priority for himself. He will write, direct, and produce the film with the project set to go through his production company Square Peg.

Aster and the producers are hoping Joaquin Phoenix signs on, and therefore are holding off before deciding when to begin filming. Joaquin Phoenix has many upcoming projects, specifically his next one, Kitbag, a Napeoloen Bonaparte biopic for 20th Century Studios under director Ridley Scott.

The film’s synopsis sounds…crazy! An anxious man (Joaquin Phoenix) 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.

I heard some of these threats featured in the movie, and they sound like some of the craziest ideas that Ari Aster has ever came up with. [+]

[Gacivory]

Up for more Aster!

[Foggy]

Nice to get a conclusion to the ‘Phoenix tackles mummy issues’ trilogy, starting with You Were Never Really Here, Joker and now this.

[Jay H.]

Pass.

[Damon1281]

If Phoenix is in, I'm in.

[Elgie]

If Joaquin Phoenix signs on, he will play the lead role of Beau. Beau is described as an extremely anxious but pleasant-looking man who has a fraught relationship with his overbearing mother, their relationship is affected from the fact that he never knew his father.

Honestly?

[lion23c]

i thought Aster's next movie was going to be a musical. Do we know if this is for A24 too?

[Poya]

Originally Posted by Elgie

Honestly?

Wrong Batman movie.

[JayTL]

Gimme

[imsounoriginal]

Midsommar was a step in the right direction after Hereditary. Hopefully this continues the upward trend.

[Kaiju]

This sounds familiar.

[CyberpunkCentral]

30 Years of The Film Foundation: Martin Scorsese and Ari Aster Conversation Clip - YouTube

[Cremildo]

Aster and Phoenix will work together on a different project.

[Cremildo]

Hereditary helmer Ari Aster looks to be heading back to the home that helped launch his career as Deadline is hearing A24 is set to finance and produce Ari Aster’s newest film Disappointment Blvd. with Joaquin Phoenix onboard to star. Rumors had been swirling at the end of last year that Phoenix was considering this as his follow-up to his Oscar-winning performance in Joker, but insiders say at the time it was still only a discussion and nothing concrete. Once Phoenix officially committed to the project, the package was put together and taken out to buyers. While there was plenty of interest from other suitors, A24 always seemed in pole position after producing Aster’s two previous hits Hereditary and Midsommar.

Written and directed by Aster project details are being kept under wraps, but the plot is described as “an intimate, decades-spanning portrait of one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time.” Alongside A24, Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen will produce under their Square Peg banner.

[HipsterTrash]

Odd about the reporting on this one. Not sure if Ari decided that he had a better script for Joaquin or what.
Could be a tactic to masquerade as a different title/premise only for it to be Beau.

Hope he does make Beau is Afraid, at some point. Read the script and it's bonkers. I could see him working at getting Billy Mayo as Beau if he does it. He's worked with him a couple times before (watch The Strange Thing About the Johnsons if you want a short film to put you in a dour mood).

[HipsterTrash]

Regardless of whatever film is happening, this pairing is aces. And I'm excited for news of another Aster film.

[CreasyBear]

I loved Hereditary, but did not like Midsommar. Obviously a very talented director, but pulled a PTA and went overly self-indulgent in his sophomore film. I hope he can reign it back in for this. A lot of potential here.

[JayTL]

Yeah, this.

Give me this.

(Although the plot sentence doesn't sound like my jam)

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

I loved Hereditary, but did not like Midsommar. Obviously a very talented director, but pulled a PTA and went overly self-indulgent in his sophomore film. I hope he can reign it back in for this. A lot of potential here.

I prefer Midsommar to Hereditary . Both are good films but I enjoy that his sophomore effort felt more in tune of him. His debut seemed a bit like trying to play into the uprising of mindful horror films (and A24 indie darling titles).

As for your PTA comment, I take it you're talking about Magnolia. Since I don't think people would say that Hard Eight is better than Boogie Nights.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

As for your PTA comment, I take it you're talking about Magnolia. Since I don't think people would say that Hard Eight is better than Boogie Nights.

I completely forgot about Hard Eight, but I think most would say that Boogie Nights was PTA's first real film that people...actually saw.

I still think the Magnolia and Midsommar comparison is apt, regardless of whether they're linked as being sophomore films.