Nearly a decade after Hereditary became one of the defining horror films of the modern era, writer-director Ari Aster has revealed that the story may not be finished after all.
During a recent Q&A screening of Hereditary at the American Cinematheque’s Bleak Week event in Los Angeles, Aster disclosed that he has already written a prequel script set in the film’s unsettling world. The surprising revelation immediately sparked excitement among horror fans, many of whom still consider Hereditary his masterpiece.
However, Aster also made it clear that the project is far from a sure thing.
According to the filmmaker, he has never found the right moment to move forward with the script. Because the story is designed as a prequel rather than a sequel, Aster admitted he remains uncertain about where the project fits into his career and whether it will ever be made.
Released in 2018, Hereditary starred Toni Collette as Annie Graham, a grieving mother whose family becomes entangled in a terrifying supernatural conspiracy. The film earned widespread acclaim and helped establish Aster as one of horror’s most influential modern filmmakers.
Since then, Aster has expanded his filmography with projects such as Midsommar, Beau Is Afraid, and the recent thriller Eddington. Even so, Hereditary continues to cast a long shadow over his career, with many fans still eager to revisit its mythology and the sinister cult operating behind the scenes.
For now, the prequel remains a fascinating “what if” rather than an official production. Still, the fact that a script already exists is enough to keep hope alive that audiences may one day return to the terrifying world of Hereditary.
