A little less than 10 years on from ‘Hereditary,’ which caused shock waves and changed the face of modern horror, visionary director Ari Aster has hinted at a possibility that could send shivers down audiences’ spines once again. The director of the eerie film spoke about writing a prequel, but don’t get your hopes up just yet.
While he has the script in place, Aster seems a little reluctant to bring his idea to fruition, frozen with fear at the thought of actually making the film.
Ari Aster Reveals A ‘Hereditary’ Prequel Exists
After ‘Hereditary‘ solidified its position as one of the most influential horror films of the 21st century, director Ari Aster recently surprised fans by confirming that he had expanded on the film’s lore by writing a prequel script.
Speaking during a Q&A session at a screening of ‘Hereditary‘ as part of American Cinematheque’s Bleak Week event, the filmmaker revealed that the screenplay is set in the same universe as the original film.
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But although the script is already complete, the idea of revisiting the same cinematic landscape is apparently something the filmmaker dreads.
Discussing why he has yet to turn the script into a film, Aster hinted at a sense of uncertainty, or even fear, about returning to the world he helped create. Ultimately, he offered no clarity about the project’s future.
“It never feels like the right time. It’s a prequel, not a sequel, so I don’t know where this goes,” he said.
With confirmation that a script is in place, rumors about what this prequel could contain are quickly spreading among the fanbase.
The Story’s Occult History Offers A Natural Prequel Setup
Even without any plot revelations from Aster, there are plenty of possibilities in terms of ‘Hereditary‘ mythology. From the film, the cult dedicated to King Paimon spent years manipulating members of the Graham family and setting things up so the demon could find a host body once summoned. Most of these events take place outside the scope of the film.
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A prequel could therefore potentially focus on the events surrounding the rise of Ellen Leigh and her cult, as well as the various summoning rituals attempted before the final attempt seen in the film.
It could also provide much-needed insight into how the cult spent generations orchestrating the perfect bloodline to ensure their ritual succeeded.
For now, however, those possibilities remain purely speculative. Aster’s comments suggest that while he sees enough material for another story in the ‘Hereditary‘ universe, he has yet to find a compelling reason to bring the project to the screen. As a result, the prequel currently stands as an intriguing piece of unrealized lore rather than the next chapter in the franchise.
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