Ari Aster Thanks A24 for Being ‘Stupid Enough’ to Let Him Make ‘Beau Is Afraid’

Director Ari Aster says it took about six months for Joaquin Phoenix to sign on to star in his new movie, Beau Is Afraid.

You get on your hands and knees and beg, Aster jokes about his first meeting with the Oscar winner. Hes the best. Hes the greatest. Hes the prince. And those eyes. He could be so naked, so exposed, and hes funny. Hes a funny guy.

Aster (Hereditary and Midsommar) and his cast celebrated the Los Angeles premiere of the A24 film Monday night at the DGA in West Hollywood.

Its when I first saw Im Still Here that I knew I needed to work with this guy, Aster said. One, its such a funny film, and two, that performance is really a brilliant comic performance. But its also because as a gesture that movie is suicidal. What he was doing with his own name there is so crazy and funny and sick. Its like a sick thing to do. Since then, Ive known Ive wanted to work with him.

As always, Phoenix skipped interviews and only posed for pictures at the premiere. The actor arrived wearing sunglasses but removed them for a few shots with Aster as well as his castmates, including Zoe Lister-Jones, Julia Antonelli, Kylie Roger, Michael Gandolfini, Amen Nahapetian and Richard Kind.

Tonight with @AriAster and #JoaquinPhoenix. @BeauIsAfraidMov #justforvariety pic.twitter.com/dx9aH2TiTq

Marc Malkin (@marcmalkin) April 11, 2023 Aster recalled the first day of shooting the three-hour black comedy. It was terrifying, he said, with a big grin. I was working with Joaquin Phoenix!

How did he settle his nerves? Aster cracked, Heroin.

For Lister-Jones, who plays the younger version of Beaus mother, she only had one thought when she first saw Phoenix on set. Holy fucking shit! she said, laughing. But hes just the coolest.

Parker Posey, who plays Beaus love interest, said Phoenix was in full hair and makeup when he visited her in her trailer on the first day. I thought he was a repairman, Posey said.

Nahapetian, who plays the young Beau, met Phoenix for the first time at the films recent New York premiere. We were standing to the side of the stage and my dad asked to take a photo of us, Nahapetian said. After he took the picture, Joaquin whispered to me, Do you know that man? I was like, Hes my dad. He was being protective. It was great.

While introducing the screening, Aster admitted being on stage wasnt his favorite thing to do. I have a stutter so this is like my worst nightmare, he said. Thank you for coming. Im very proud of this film. I still cant quite believe I was given the resources and freedom to make it in the way that we did, and credit is very much due to A24 for being stupid enough to give me that.

The evenings guest list also included Pedro Pascal, Daniel Kwan, Kesha, Mae Martin, Harry Shum Jr., Darren Criss, Jonathan Wang, Benito Skinner and Jesse Williams.

The big surprise guest at the post-party was Mariah Carey, who posed for pics with Aster and Posey.