Ari Asters father advised him to stop screenwriting after Beau is Afraid underperformed at box office
During a recent appearance on the 'WTF with Marc Maron' podcast, as quoted by Variety, Aster said his father suggested he stick to directing only after his 2023 film 'Beau Is Afraid' underperformed at the box office.
"When 'Beau Is Afraid' flopped, my dad did tell me, 'Uh, maybe you shouldn't write the next one. He might've been right," said Aster as quoted by Variety.
Despite the advice, Aster wrote his follow-up feature, 'Eddington,' which is currently in theatres. A24 and Aster are hoping for a win from the small-town dramedy starring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal after "Beau" grossed 12 million USD worldwide against a 35 million USD budget.
Aster said he was "pretty sad" about the poor critical and commercial reception of "Beau," but added that a few stray messages of support helped him deal with the disappointment.
"I was pretty sad that it was, like, so maligned. There are a lot of people who reached out to tell me that they loved it...that helped, but yeah, no, it was a bummer because it was a huge, you know, it lost money, and critically, I wouldn't say it was, like, reviled, but it was definitely, like, there was no consensus whatsoever," said Aster as quoted by Variety.
He continued, "All these things you take away after you release a film, and you're like, 'OK, it's out of my hands now, I can't really avoid people's reactions, responses.' It's like, you know, you kind of learn something...No matter what the response, you're proud of for sticking with [your choice], and then certain things where you're like, 'Eh, I'm not sure if it was worth losing that much of the audience for that decision.' I think I ejected a number of people from the theatre. I could've used them."
Aster's latest feature is Eddington. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimer, Austin Butler, Emma Stone and others.
The film was screened in Cannes, followed by a recent theatrical release. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Anthony Mackie reveals how he almost didn't star in The Hurt Locker
Actor Anthony Mackie has revealed he almost missed out on his breakthrough role in The Hurt Locker due to his commitment to another project: one he now regrets taking on. Speaking on a recent episode of Variety's Know Their Lines, Mackie described the experience of working on the unreleased film as 'one of the most disheartening' of his career. Anthony Mackie reveals he almost lost on on The Hurt Locker.(Screengrab/The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) Speaking during the episode, Mackie said that he shot Hurt Locker in 2007. But he was filming another movie in North Carolina at the time, which was being 'directed by quite possibly the worst director to ever direct,' and added that because the movie's schedule was pushed further, the Captain America: Brave New World actor had to pull out of Hurt Locker. Also read: Tom Holland debuts new Spider-Man suit in Brand New Day; Fans say 'prayed for…' After Mackie was forced to drop out, the team behind The Hurt Locker offered the role of Sergeant JT Sanborn to another actor. However, the actor refused the remuneration. This twist turned into Mackie's golden opportunity since the filmmakers chose to wait for his availability. What was the other project? Mackie did not name the project directly during the interview, but it is widely believed to be Bolden, a troubled biopic on jazz musician Buddy Bolden, according to another Fandomwire report. Directed by Daniel Pritzker, the film began production in 2006 but was not released until 2019 due to creative and logistical issues. In contrast, Mackie was all praises for Hurt Locker maker Kathryn Bigelow. He said the moment he landed in Jordan's Amman, he and Bigelow hit the ground running. Also read: Sakamoto Days Season 1 Part 2 Episode 15: Release date, time, where to watch and more The Hurt Locker, which starred Jeremy Renner alongside Mackie, became a hit and won six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Mackie's performance as a member of a bomb disposal unit in Iraq marked a turning point in his career. Mackie, speaking about the film, told Variety that The Hurt Locker was probably one of the most important acting experiences he has had. Anthony Mackie and Jeremy Renner's paths likely to cross again Renner and Mackie then went on to star in Marvel's Avengers franchise. While Mackie is confirmed to appear in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, Renner's return is still uncertain. However, fans could see the two reunite in Avengers: Secret Wars, which will be released on December 17, 2027. FAQs Q: What movie almost cost Anthony Mackie his role in The Hurt Locker? A: The film is believed to be Bolden (2019), a biopic about jazz musician Buddy Bolden. Q: Who was offered the role after Anthony Mackie pulled out? A: The name of the actor was not revealed, but he reportedly declined the role due to low pay. Q: How did The Hurt Locker impact Anthony Mackie's career? A: It was a breakout role that led to wider recognition and future roles in blockbuster franchises like the MCU. Q: Who directed The Hurt Locker? A: It was directed by Kathryn Bigelow, who became the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director. Q: Where can I watch The Hurt Locker and Bolden? A: Both films are available to rent on Apple TV+ (USA).
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Stevie Nicks postpones shows after shoulder injury
Washington DC [US], August 3 (ANI): Singer-songwriter Steve Nicks has been forced to postpone her upcoming tour dates for the next two months after the iconic singer fractured her shoulder, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "Due to a recent injury resulting in a fractured shoulder that will require recovery time, Stevie Nicks' scheduled concerts in August and September will be rescheduled," Nicks shared in a statement posted on Instagram. "Please note that October dates will be unaffected." Nicks' tour was originally slated to start in Brooklyn on August 8, but now the debut date will be October 1 in Portland, Oregon. Other impacted dates include shows in Detroit, Toronto, Boston and Tampa, among others, as per the outlet. "Stevie looks forward to seeing everyone soon and apologizes to the fans for this inconvenience," the statement said. The complete list of rescheduled shows is available on Nick's Instagram post below, as per the outlet. Nicks' announcement comes a week after she and former Fleetwood Mac bandmate Lindsey Buckingham had revealed that they would finally be reissuing their lone studio album, Buckingham Nicks, in September. That record was considered a commercial letdown at the time of its release in 1973, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975, helping the band to become one of the best-selling music acts of all time with over 120 million records sold worldwide. In 1981, while remaining a member of Fleetwood Mac, Nicks began her solo career, releasing the studio album Bella Donna, which topped the Billboard 200 and has reached multiplatinum status. Nicks has garnered eight Grammy Award nominations and two American Music Award nominations as a solo artist. She has won numerous awards with Fleetwood Mac, including a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978 for Rumours. On April 19, 2024, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift referenced Nicks in the song "Clara Bow" from her eleventh studio album The Tortured Poets Department (2024).(ANI)
Mint
5 hours ago
- Mint
'I have to break that cycle': Lindsay Lohan on being pigeonholed by past roles
Washington DC [US], August 3 (ANI): Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan opened up on being pigeonholed by roles she has played in the past as a longstanding actress in the entertainment industry, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lohan began her career at age 10 on the soap opera 'Another World', with her breakthrough in the 1998 Walt Disney Pictures film 'The Parent Trap'. She went on to appear in many more projects, including 'Freaky Friday' and 'Mean Girls', and she is next set to reprise her role in the former film with the 2025 follow-up Freakier Friday. Lohan shared that she "wanted to take a minute" for herself, which kept her away from leading roles from 2013 until 2022. "I was losing that feeling of excitement about doing a film, and I wanted to live my own life for a bit, figure out how to have a more private life, a real life," she said, adding, "I wanted to wait to get that itch again." A new project Lohan is excited about is her upcoming Hulu Drama, Count My Lies, in which she will star and produce. While talking about her career, when asked if she felt "pigeonholed," she replied, "Yeah, I do," according to The Hollywood Reporter. "I was so thrilled to work on A Prairie Home Companion, and yet even today, I have to fight for stuff that is like that, which is frustrating. Because, well, you know me as this -- but you also know I can do that. So let me! Give me the chance," Lohan said. "I have to break that cycle and open doors to something else, leaving people no choice. And in due time, if Martin Scorsese reaches out, I'm not going to say no." At the Los Angeles premiere of Freakier Friday, Lohan shared that moving forward in her career, she would " like to take on some more serious, dramatic roles," further noting that she felt a bit of pressure to stick to the rom-com genre.
