Ari Aster wrote a 'Hereditary' prequel — but says timing never felt right
Synopsis
Ari Aster has quietly written a prequel to 'Hereditary' — but says he can't find the right moment to make it. Between that revelation and his account of a nightmare financier who nearly sank the original film, the Egyptian Theatre Q&A was a rare unguarded moment from one of horror's most guarded directors.
Key Takeaways
Ari Aster confirmed he has written a prequel to 'Hereditary' but has not made it, citing timing concerns.
The disclosure was made at a Q&A following a screening at the Egyptian Theatre .
Aster rejected the 'elevated horror' label, calling it a box that alienated horror fans.
Danny DeVito reportedly attempted to finance 'Hereditary' but could not raise the funds.
Aster described the unnamed financier who eventually backed the film as 'one of the darkest times of my life.'
Filmmaker Ari Aster has revealed that he wrote a prequel to his debut horror film 'Hereditary', but has so far held back from making it, saying the timing has never felt right. The disclosure came during a Q&A session following a screening of the film at the Egyptian Theatre, according to reports.
What Aster Said
Speaking candidly to the audience, Aster confirmed the prequel's existence but remained non-committal about its future. 'I wrote a prequel to this. It never feels like the right time. It's a prequel, not a sequel, so I don't know where this goes,' he said.
The filmmaker did not share plot details or a timeline for production, leaving fans of the 2018 cult film with little more than the knowledge that a prequel script exists.
About 'Hereditary' and Its Legacy
'Hereditary' marked Aster's feature directorial debut and instantly established him as a defining voice in contemporary horror. The film stars Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, and Gabriel Byrne, following the Graham family as their lives violently unravel following the death of a reclusive grandmother. Its critical and commercial success put Aster firmly on the map.
Since then, he has directed 'Midsommar', 'Beau Is Afraid', and 'Eddington' — all released through A24.
Aster Rejects the 'Elevated Horror' Label
Aster also pushed back against the widely used 'elevated horror' tag that critics and industry observers have applied to his work, alongside that of directors such as Jordan Peele and Robert Eggers. 'I hate the term elevated horror, especially because it's sort of a box that I was put in and horror fans took umbrage,' he said.
The label, he suggested, creates an unnecessary hierarchy within the genre and alienates its core audience.
The Troubled Road to Finishing 'Hereditary'
Aster also disclosed that Danny DeVito had once attempted to finance 'Hereditary' but was unable to secure the funds. The filmmaker eventually turned to another financier — whose name he declined to reveal — describing the experience as 'one of the darkest times of my life.'
'It was just in the hands of a financier that was, how do we say it? Worse. I'm afraid to say the name because he might show up in my life. Really a nightmare who I had signed my life away, I had signed the film away to him,' Aster recalled.
He added: 'He had me in the palm of his hand. It was one of the darkest times of my life, actually finishing this film and trying to protect it, keep it from just blowing up.'
The remarks offer a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes turbulence that preceded one of the most celebrated horror debuts in recent memory. Whether the prequel ever moves beyond a script remains to be seen.
Point of View
But the more revealing part of the Q&A was his account of the financier who nearly destroyed the film. That story — unnamed out of apparent fear — points to a structural vulnerability in independent horror financing that rarely gets discussed publicly. The 'elevated horror' pushback is also worth noting: the label has served marketing departments far more than it has served the genre or its directors, and Aster is not the first filmmaker it has boxed in.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Ari Aster written a prequel to 'Hereditary'?
Yes, Ari Aster has confirmed he wrote a prequel to 'Hereditary', but has not moved forward with production. He said the timing has never felt right, without elaborating on plot details or a potential release window.
What did Ari Aster say about the 'elevated horror' label?
Aster said he hates the term, describing it as a box he was placed in that caused horror fans to take offence. He has consistently resisted genre sub-classifications that imply a hierarchy within horror.
Who tried to finance 'Hereditary' before it was made?
Actor and filmmaker Danny DeVito reportedly attempted to finance 'Hereditary' but was unable to secure the necessary funds. Aster eventually found another financier, whose experience he described as deeply troubling.
What films has Ari Aster made since 'Hereditary'?
Since 'Hereditary' in 2018, Aster has directed 'Midsommar', 'Beau Is Afraid', and 'Eddington', all released through A24.
Who stars in 'Hereditary'?
'Hereditary' stars Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, and Gabriel Byrne. The film follows the Graham family as their lives unravel after the death of the family's reclusive grandmother.
