We Speak Actors

Cory Michael Smith Joins the Cast of Ari Aster’s Next Film, “Scapegoat”

Published

5 days ago

October 22, 2026

Cory Michael Smith is the latest actor to join the ensemble of Scapegoat, the next feature film from director Ari Aster.

The casting, reported by Deadline, adds Smith to a star-led ensemble that has been assembled through a series of announcements. Scapegoat is Aster’s next feature following his run of films with A24, the studio partnership that made him one of the most closely followed directors in modern cinema — a filmmaker whose every new project arrives with intense anticipation and secrecy in equal measure.

Smith brings a résumé built on range. He first broke out to wide audiences as Edward Nygma — the future Riddler — on the hit series Gotham, a role he carried across the show’s full run. In film, he earned critical praise for his work in Todd Haynes’ Carol, and he more recently appeared in the series Transatlantic. That mix of blockbuster television, prestige film, and international drama has made him one of the more quietly versatile actors of his generation.

Specifics about Scapegoat — its story, its characters, and the size of Smith’s role — have not been disclosed, which is standard practice for an Aster production. What is clear is the pattern: each new casting announcement adds another respected name to a project already carrying major expectations.

For Smith, the booking continues a career defined by interesting choices rather than safe ones. Joining an Ari Aster ensemble places him in one of the most talked-about productions currently taking shape, and gives audiences one more reason to watch for what Scapegoat turns out to be.

We Speak Actors

Paul Giamatti Joins “Grandgear,” the First English-Language Film From “Godzilla Minus One” Director Takashi Yamazaki

Published

9 hours ago

October 27, 2026

We Speak Media

Paul Giamatti is joining one of the most closely watched productions on the horizon. The acclaimed actor has been announced as a new cast addition to Grandgear, the upcoming film from Japanese director Takashi Yamazaki.

Yamazaki, who won worldwide acclaim with Godzilla Minus One, also wrote the script for Grandgear, which will be his first English-language film. Plot and character details are being kept under wraps, adding to the intrigue around the project.

Giamatti is not the only new name attached. Also announced for the cast are Nico Parker, known for The Last of Us and How to Train Your Dragon, and Sam Nivola of The White Lotus. The additions point to an ensemble that mixes veteran star power with two of the most in-demand young actors working today.

The film is being produced by J.J. Abrams under his Bad Robot banner, and production is expected to commence in 2027. For Giamatti, one of the most respected performers of his generation, the role adds a major international production to his slate — and pairs him with a filmmaker whose stock has never been higher.

Yamazaki’s schedule is busy in the meantime: his Godzilla Minus Zero is due in theaters in November. With a secretive script, a heavyweight producer, and a cast now led in part by Giamatti, Grandgear is shaping up as a production the industry will be following closely well before cameras roll.

The casting also underlines the scale of Yamazaki’s step into English-language filmmaking. A first film in a new language is a significant move for any director; making it with an actor of Giamatti’s caliber — opposite rising names like Parker and Nivola — signals a production aiming squarely at a global audience.

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