Ayo Edebiri takes on her first major horror role in Opus, an A24 thriller written and directed by Mark Anthony Green. The film, which is now in theaters, explores the dark intersections of celebrity worship, media obsession, and power. Starring John Malkovich as a reclusive musician, the movie follows Edebiri’s character, an ambitious young journalist, as she navigates the eerie world of his devoted followers.
The film’s premise centers on Alfred Moretti (Malkovich), a legendary pop star who vanished from the public eye for three decades before surprisingly announcing a comeback album. He invites a select group of journalists and industry figures—including Edebiri’s Ariel Ecton—to an exclusive listening event at his secluded desert compound. As the gathering unfolds, Ariel becomes increasingly unsettled by Moretti’s cult-like admirers and his disturbing antics, raising questions about the dangers of fame.
Green, a former GQ editor making his feature film debut, described Opus as a film meant to provoke discussion. “I don’t pretend to have answers to such complicated issues,” he told Ice Cream Convos in a video interview. “I hope that Opus makes people ask questions... about what I consider to be a global pandemic of tribalism.” He added that the film explores the ways society selects and venerates leaders, often overlooking their moral failings.
In an interview with RogerEbert.com, Green described Opus as “a cautionary tale for an increasingly online world that conflates obsession with genuine connection.” In the video interview he added, “If people walk away questioning the way we select leaders and what makes a good leader in the first place, then I’ll feel like mission accomplished.”
While Malkovich truly delivers as a larger-than-life pop star, Edebiri also holds her own opposite the veteran actor. “I think she’s so, so talented, and I watch her in Opus, and I’m just constantly seeing new things that she does and impressed by her performance,” Green told IndieWire. “It’s one of the things just to see her in a different gear. I feel like there are a lot of reasons people should go see this film, but seeing Ayo in a different gear is worth $20 or $15 or whatever [your ticket is].”
Is Opus Streaming Yet?
While A24 has not announced an official streaming release date, the film is expected to eventually and on Max, given A24’s existing distribution deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. Previous A24 releases, such as The Iron Claw and Priscilla, have followed a similar pattern.
In the meantime, viewers can buy or rent the film at home on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Youtube TV.
