Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal Clash Over Katy Perry’s “Firework” in Ari Aster’s ‘Eddington’

In this installment of “Anatomy of a Scene,” directors reveal the creative process behind some of their most memorable movie moments. New episodes are released on Fridays.

This article contains spoilers for the film ‘Eddington.’

A confrontation escalates between a local sheriff and the town mayor in Ari Aster’s pandemic-themed satire, ‘Eddington.’

Joaquin Phoenix portrays Sheriff Joe Cross, who shares a longstanding rivalry with Mayor Ted Garcia, played by Pedro Pascal. With Cross campaigning for mayor and having made disparaging remarks about Garcia, tensions rise when Cross arrives to respond to a noise complaint at Garcia’s fundraising event.

The outdoor party, held amid pandemic precautions with masks, Purell bottles, and infrared thermometers, features loud music — notably Katy Perry’s “Firework,” which Cross turns down. The scene is predominantly captured in a continuous Steadicam shot.

Director Ari Aster explained, “Long, uninterrupted takes allow the actors to inhabit the space fully. Joaquin’s physicality is remarkable, and filming mostly from behind him reveals much through his body language.”

While “Firework” serves as a significant musical backdrop in the scene, it was not the original choice.

Aster noted, “We initially sought to use ‘Empire State of Mind’ by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. That New York anthem felt ironically humorous for a small-town fundraiser in New Mexico and suited the character of Mayor Garcia—a somewhat awkward politician. Ultimately, ‘Firework’ also captured the cultural tone we wanted.”

The escalating tension culminates in Garcia slapping Cross.

Aster recounted, “Pedro was hesitant about the slap because he didn’t want to hurt Joaquin, especially since he had a shoulder injury during filming. Early takes were gentler until Joaquin challenged him to really hit him, resulting in one of the takes where the slap is genuine.”