Joaquin Phoenix has officially set his first acting project since 2019’sJoker. The acclaimed actor is teaming up withMidsommarandHereditarywriter-director Ari Aster forDisappointment Blvd.
In November, it was reported that Phoenix and Aster were looking to collaborate on asurrealist horror-themed filmcalledBeau Is Afraid.Now, Deadlinehas confirmed that the project will be calledDisappointment Blvd. While specific details have been kept tight-lipped, the film is described as “an intimate, decades-spanning portrait of one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time.” Aster has previously stated that his next film would be four-hours long. He described it as an adults-online “zonkey nightmare comedy.” The director didn’t specifically name the project, so it’s unclear if he was speaking ofDisappointment Blvd.
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A24 has signed on to finance and produceDisappointment Blvd. Aster previously worked with the studio onHereditaryandMidsommer,which are his only features to date. Both films earned positive reviews from critics and garnered buzz for theirshocking supernatural horror elements.Hereditarypremiered in 2018 and became A24’s highest-grossing film worldwide, earning $80 million on just a $10 million budget. The Tony Collette-led film followed a family haunted by mysterious force after the death of their grandmother.
Phoenix has garnered acclaim over the years for his work inThe Master,Her,Gladiator, andWalk the Line. The actor received wide-acclaim for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck/Joker in Todd Philips’re-imaged origin storyof the iconic DC character. Despite dividing critics,Jokerbecame the highest-grossing R-rated film in history by making over $1 billion worldwide. It received 11 Oscar nominations, with Phoenix winning his first Best Actor award. Since the film’s release, rumors of a potential sequel have swirled. Phillips has previously said he’s “open to the idea” and would love to work with Phoenix again.
TheJokerstar has a busy year in front of him, as he is also slated to play 19th-century French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte inKitbag.Directed byAlienhelmer Ridley Scott, the film is being made for Apple TV+ and will mark the first time Phoenix and Scott have worked together since 2000’sGladiator. According to Deadline, Phoenix will film Aster’s project first since Scott is currently prepping his crime thrillerGucci.
Phoenix will next be seen in Mike Mills’C’mon C’mon,which was filmed back in 2019. Mills previously directed critically acclaimed movies20th Century Women,Beginners, andThumbsucker. His upcoming Indie follows an artist (Phoenix) who forms a bond with his nephew over a cross-country trip.
