Overview

• Ari Aster confirmed on Semafor’s Mixed Signals podcast that he was invited to direct the 2022 film Morbius but declined.
• Morbius, which was helmed by Daniel Espinosa, endured multiple COVID-19 delays and grossed $167 million amid overwhelmingly negative reviews and a 15% Rotten Tomatoes score.
• Aster has spent seven years writing and directing original horror films for A24, including the financially successful Hereditary and Midsommar.
• Media and fans have speculated that Aster’s distinctive, auteur-driven style could have reshaped Morbius’s tone and improved its critical reception.
• His latest film, the Western Eddington, premiered at Cannes in May and is now playing in theaters.