Alfonso Cuarón flirting with a horror movie — maybe sooner than you think
Alfonso Cuarón, the visual mind behind Gravity and Children of Men, says his next move is into darker territory — and he’s teaming with his son again.
Here we go, another Cuarón family project on the horizon — and this time, with a twist. Alfonso Cuarón, best known for things like Gravity (and nabbing that Best Director Oscar for it), is teaming up with his son Jonas Cuarón once again. Turns out they’re not just a winning combo on paper; if you remember Gravity, you’ll know the pair can pull off some serious big-screen spectacle. But their new focus is on something a bit closer to earth: a film centring on immigration, called Cabacho Champion.
The duo have been in Busan, Korea, marking their first proper appearance together there, to chat about film — not just their own, but their deep appreciation for how Korean filmmakers smuggle social themes into thrillers without getting preachy. Jonas couldn’t resist giving a shout-out to the likes of The Host, Parasite, Hope, and No Way Out — he rates the humour and intelligence of those homegrown genre flicks, and says there’s loads to learn from them.
Jonas Cuarón, speaking about his favourites on stage in Busan: "They weave social themes into genre, and incorporate humor. There is much to learn."
The working dynamic between the two remains delightfully straightforward. Alfonso put it pretty plainly: when they’re on the job, it's director and writer — family ties become a lunch break thing. Off the clock, they're back to father and son. On the clock? All professionalism.
This busyness with Cabacho Champion hasn't stopped Alfonso from dropping hints about a change of direction, though. He’s got his eye on a pure horror film next, telling the crowd he’s 'writing a new screenplay' that dives straight into the genre. If you're used to Alfonso's blend of drama and magic-realism, this should be something completely different.
Alfonso, talking about what’s next: "I am writing a new screenplay. A story in the horror genre. It is very interesting."
The Ascension Project
That’s not even the only horror on his radar — before launching into a feature, Cuarón is set to dip his toe into scary territory for Apple TV with a series called Ascension. It’s inspired by Adam Nevill’s cult-thriller novel Last Days and will be co-run by Natalie Erika James and Christian White — James directing too (she’s the talent behind Relic and Apartment 7A, so expect a certain nervous tension). Cuarón’s Esperanto Filmoj and Apple Studios are behind the production, with the ever-present Anonymous Content in the mix as well.
The show revolves around Rose (played by Caitriona Balfe), a tireless documentary filmmaker and newly single mum whose knack for digging up other people’s secrets gets her tangled with the Church of Ascension — a shadowy cult from the last century. While Rose starts off thinking she’s found a bit of meaning, the deeper she wades in, the darker the waters get. It all goes a bit pear-shaped as she learns what her new 'refuge' is really hiding. As with any good psychological horror, the nastiest danger might actually be inside herself.
Ascension for Apple TV will see Caitriona Balfe in the lead as a documentary filmmaker investigating a dangerous cult.
Expect weighty questions about evil, innocence, and the mess people make when trying to protect what matters — not exactly light viewing, but then, would you expect anything else from the man who left Sandra Bullock spinning off into the void? If Cabacho Champion and his upcoming horror script weren’t enough, Ascension means Alfonso Cuarón is about to be everywhere for a while — and in a few genres you definitely hadn’t pegged him for.