Scarlett Johansson’s Scapegoat Just Added Gotham’s Riddler to the Cast, and This Ensemble Is Getting Wild

If you thought the cast list for Ari Aster’s new thriller Scapegoat was already stacked, think again. The film just added another heavy hitter, and at this point the ensemble reads like a fever dream lineup for film Twitter.

Deadline broke the news on October 21 that Cory Michael Smith has boarded Scapegoat, the mystery project from Hereditary and Midsommar director Ari Aster. Smith is best known for spending five seasons as Edward Nygma, the Riddler, on Gotham, and he joins a cast already headlined by Scarlett Johansson alongside Jacob Elordi, Jude Law, Ella Purnell, Caleb Landry Jones and Samba Schutte.

Yes, that is seven names deep, and nobody has any idea what the movie is actually about.

Who Is Cory Michael Smith, and Why This Casting Matters

Smith might be one of the most interesting character actors working right now. His turn as the Riddler on Gotham remains one of the best villain arcs in comic book television, but he has spent the years since proving he is so much more than that role.

He earned serious acclaim for his performance in the HBO film Mountainhead, where he held his own opposite Steve Carell and Ramy Youssef. He showed off serious comedy chops playing Chevy Chase in Saturday Night, the film about the chaotic first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Right now he can be seen alongside Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson in The Sun Never Sets. Coverage from Dread Central also confirmed the casting and highlighted his rising star status.

And the A24 connection is already in place. Smith’s next project is Slayground, a thriller from Green Room director Jeremy Saulnier that A24 is releasing on January 29, 2027. So by the time Scapegoat arrives, he will be a familiar face in the A24 universe.

The Wildest Cast List in Hollywood Right Now

Let us take a moment to appreciate how strange and wonderful this ensemble is. You have Scarlett Johansson, one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, coming off a massive year. You have Jacob Elordi, the Euphoria breakout who just worked with Guillermo del Toro on Frankenstein and is being talked about as a potential James Bond. You have Jude Law, a veteran who can do literally anything.

Then you have Ella Purnell, the Yellowjackets and Fallout star who has become a genuine genre powerhouse. Caleb Landry Jones, the fearless character actor who recently played Dracula for Luc Besson. Samba Schutte, the Pluribus breakout. And now Cory Michael Smith, Gotham’s Riddler.

Johansson herself has been on an incredible run. Fans recently got the first trailer for The Exorcist: Martyrs, where she plays an NYPD homicide detective in Mike Flanagan’s horror reboot, and she spent the year leading Jurassic World: Rebirth to box office glory. Adding an Ari Aster collaboration to that resume is exactly the kind of prestige move she loves.

Nobody Knows What This Movie Is About

Here is the best part. Per Aster’s usual style, the plot of Scapegoat is locked down tight. Deadline reports that insiders genuinely cannot agree on what the film is.

Some sources claim it follows a doctor who operates on an internet famous person. Others describe it as a science fiction romance. A third camp insists it is a more traditional drama, closer to Aster’s comfort zone.

Aster and his partner Lars Knudsen are producing through their Square Peg banner, and A24 is handling distribution, continuing a partnership that spans all four of Aster’s prior films. This will be Aster’s fifth feature, following Hereditary, Midsommar, Beau Is Afraid and Eddington, and his first directing effort since Eddington.

Why Aster Keeps Collecting Stars

There is a reason every actor wants to work with Ari Aster. He is one of the few directors who can guarantee a movie becomes a conversation piece. Hereditary and Midsommar changed modern horror forever. Beau Is Afraid divided audiences in the most fascinating way possible.

Elordi, who has been navigating his post Euphoria career with serious care, reportedly tested for the new James Bond recently, which makes his choice to sign on to an Aster mystery box even more telling. The Bond rumors around Elordi have been building all month, and Scapegoat proves he is chasing prestige projects first.

Filming is expected to begin later this year, which means more casting announcements and plot leaks are probably coming. Given how tight Aster keeps things, do not expect clarity anytime soon. And honestly, that is half the fun.

A movie starring Scarlett Johansson, Gotham’s Riddler, and a new James Bond contender, directed by the guy who made Midsommar? Whatever this is about, we will be there opening night.

What We Know So Far

• Title: Scapegoat
• Director/Writer: Ari Aster
• Star: Scarlett Johansson
• Cast: Jacob Elordi, Jude Law, Ella Purnell, Caleb Landry Jones, Samba Schutte, Cory Michael Smith
• Studio: A24 (distribution), Square Peg (production)
• Filming: Expected to begin late 2026
• Plot: Unknown. Pick your favorite rumor.