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Ari Aster Confirms He Turned Down Marvel’s Morbius Offer

Revealing his preference for original projects, the horror auteur has his Western Eddington in theaters this month.

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.