Joaquin Phoenix’s new A24 film starring Ari Aster just changed its title, but I’m more interested in this weird poster
In between Hereditary and midsummer, writer/director Ari Aster has quickly proven to be a master filmmaker with some seriously screwed up stories to tell. So whatever he has next, we were on high alert. His Mysterious film starring Joaquin Phoenix was announced last year, and it looks like the name has changed Disappointment Blvd. to Beau is scared – but more interesting than the title change is what this debut poster is all about.
The film’s official new title was announced by A24 (the production company behind enough favorites for a thought-provoking horror film marathon) alongside a very random and frankly oddly composed poster Instagram. Listen:
This looks like a movie called Joaquin Phoenix instead of Beau is scared, which appears as a hashtag in the bottom left. And what’s up with this artwork of the actor as a child in silk pajamas? I’m so confused!
A24 simply captioned the poster, “Ari Aster. Joaquin Phoenix. Next year, BEAU IS SCARED.” And that’s it. Disappointment Blvd is a much better title in my opinion, but hey, those two names are very much enough to get me hooked Beau is scared Nevertheless.
Joaquin Phoenix comes from his Oscar win 2020 joker as well as his critically acclaimed 2021 film C’mon C’mon and he has the second joker movie on the go. Joker: Folie a Deuxwhich will also star Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, recently started filming before the October 2024 release date.
Beau is scared is described as a decades-long portrait of “one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time”. That description definitely makes this literal portrait of a young phoenix meaningful. Maybe there will be more showing the character getting older? in the Post photos of the projectJoaquin Phoenix looks much older, has gray hair and is wearing the same gray pajama set as on the poster.
Given Ari Aster was behind one of the The best horror movies of all time, I trust him. There’s a reason why this particular poster is the first image for Beau is scared. I wonder if there’s going to be some sort of young Joaquin Phoenix in this film, or if that’s some sort of metaphor for how childish this “entrepreneur” is.
I’ll also consider whether this poster is intentionally disappointing because of the original name, or if A24 just released an odd bit of marketing. I would imagine that this poster is a signal that a trailer might be on the way along with a release date. Currently we know it will be below Theatrical release dates 2023but right now there are so many more questions than answers.
