Overview

• Aster revealed during the Semafor Mixed Signals interview that he was asked to helm the 2022 vampire film but opted out after a moment’s hesitation over its title
• Morbius, part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe and starring Jared Leto, opened in April 2022 to overwhelmingly negative reviews and grossed $167 million worldwide
• Following the financial successes of Hereditary and Midsommar at A24, Aster’s third feature, Beau Is Afraid, underperformed by earning just $12 million against a $35 million budget
• His latest film, the Western Eddington featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, premiered at Cannes in May and has generated mostly positive critical response
• Aster has long criticized the creative constraints of superhero franchises, arguing that they limit directors’ ability to pursue personal, original storytelling