Ari Aster says he has written a prequel set in the world of Hereditary, but he does not plan to develop it anytime soon. Speaking during a Q&A at the American Cinematheque’s annual Bleak Week, where his films Midsommar: Director’s Cut, Beau Is Afraid and Eddington were screened, Aster said the project exists on paper but he feels no urgency to move forward. He explained that because it is a prequel rather than a sequel, he is unsure where the story would go and said the timing never seems right.
Aster’s comments come more than seven years after Hereditary was released in 2018 and established him as one of the most distinctive voices in modern horror. The film, which Aster wrote and directed, became a major success for A24 and has earned more than $90 million worldwide. It stars Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd and Gabriel Byrne, and centers on a family unraveling after a devastating loss as increasingly disturbing events begin to unfold.
While Aster is putting the Hereditary prequel idea on hold, he is already moving ahead with another project. Last month, reports said he is set to direct Scapegoat, a film from his own script, with Scarlett Johansson attached to star. The project will reportedly reunite Aster with A24, the studio behind his previous four films. Plot details have not been disclosed.
Aster’s recent work includes the 2025 satirical neo-noir Eddington, and his next film would follow that title if production moves forward. In addition to his directing work, he and Lars Knudsen’s Square Peg company are reviving their filmmaker mentorship program, Square Peg Social. The second edition of the initiative will be held in Austin from Sept. 17 to 21, with applications now open.
For now, fans hoping for a return to the world of Hereditary will have to wait. Aster has made clear that the prequel exists only as a script for the moment, and he is focused on other work rather than revisiting the Graham family story in the near term.
