Selena Gomez to star in Corbet's occult mysticism film

TL;DR

The InSneider reports Selena Gomez will star in Brady Corbet's next film on American mysticism and occult history.
Corbet described the project at a festival as exploring cult belief systems, with a 200-page script and 50-day shoot planned.
Gomez's reported lead role pairs her post-Emilia Perez star power with Corbet's ambitious style after The Brutalist's Oscars.

The story at a glance

The InSneider's exclusive reports that Selena Gomez is set to star in Brady Corbet's untitled next film, which delves into American mysticism, the history of the occult, and migration of cult belief systems. Corbet shared details at Dublin's Storyhouse festival, noting his collaboration with occult historian Mitch Horowitz and a 200-page script requiring a 50-day shoot. This breaks now following Corbet's recent talk and amid buzz from his Oscar-winning The Brutalist, with Gomez drawn to auteur projects.[[1]](https://deadline.com/2026/04/brady-corbet-american-mysticism-occult-storyhouse-1236863168/)[[2]](https://theplaylist.net/brady-corbets-next-film-explores-american-mysticism-the-history-of-the-occult-with-selena-gomez-reportedly-circling-a-lead-role-20260416)

Key points

Selena Gomez, star of Only Murders in the Building and Emilia Perez, is reportedly attached to a lead role, per The InSneider; no studio confirmation yet.[[2]](https://theplaylist.net/brady-corbets-next-film-explores-american-mysticism-the-history-of-the-occult-with-selena-gomez-reportedly-circling-a-lead-role-20260416)
Film title rumored as The Origin of the World, described in some reports as a 4-hour X-rated/NC-17 western spanning 150 years in Northern California, focused on the 1970s—but these details remain unconfirmed speculation.[[3]](https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2026/4/16/selena-gomez-set-to-star-in-brady-corbets-the-origin-of-the-world-his-4-hour-x-rated-western)
Corbet's script is 200 pages, planned as two 25-day shoots totaling 50 days, shot on 65mm film; pre-production underway, possible locations in Portugal and South Africa.[[1]](https://deadline.com/2026/04/brady-corbet-american-mysticism-occult-storyhouse-1236863168/)
Corbet has researched extensively on cultist structures and is working with Mitch Horowitz, an occult historian.[[2]](https://theplaylist.net/brady-corbets-next-film-explores-american-mysticism-the-history-of-the-occult-with-selena-gomez-reportedly-circling-a-lead-role-20260416)
No studio attached; potential distributors like A24, Neon, or Mubi eyed for a possible 2027 release; Daniel Blumberg returning to score.[[3]](https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2026/4/16/selena-gomez-set-to-star-in-brady-corbets-the-origin-of-the-world-his-4-hour-x-rated-western)

Details and context

Brady Corbet follows The Brutalist—his 3.5-hour Oscar winner from a 165-page script—with another epic, signaling his taste for long-form, provocative cinema like Vox Lux and The Childhood of a Leader. He discussed the project at Storyhouse in Dublin, moderated by A24's Rose Garnett, just after awards season.

Gomez has pursued prestige roles with auteurs including Harmony Korine, Woody Allen, Jim Jarmusch, and Jacques Audiard, making this a logical fit post her Emilia Perez acclaim.

Secondary reports add unverified color like the title and rating, but stick to The InSneider's core scoop and Corbet's own words for reliability; no plot synopsis or other cast named yet.

Key quotes

“My new film is a film that is sort of about American mysticism and the history of the occult in America, and I’ve been reading tons and tons of material about the migration of the cultist belief systems and structures.” — Brady Corbet, at Storyhouse festival (via Deadline).[[1]](https://deadline.com/2026/04/brady-corbet-american-mysticism-occult-storyhouse-1236863168/)

“I’ve started working with this fascinating guy called Mitch Horowitz, who is an occultist historian of America.” — Brady Corbet.[[2]](https://theplaylist.net/brady-corbets-next-film-explores-american-mysticism-the-history-of-the-occult-with-selena-gomez-reportedly-circling-a-lead-role-20260416)

Why it matters

Corbet’s track record positions this as potential awards bait blending historical depth with bold themes, testing indie limits on mysticism amid Hollywood's occult trend. For Gomez, it means another high-profile auteur turn that could elevate her film profile; fans and investors eye her draw in challenging material. Watch for studio attachment or official casting soon, though runtime and rating details may evolve or prove overstated.