Filmmaker Ridley Scott has said “great writing is like great music”.
The director, 88, known for Gladiator, The Martian and Thelma and Louise, was behind the upcoming film adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, The Dog Stars.
The action film follows Hig, a pilot played by Wuthering Heights star Jacob Elordi, who tries to stay alive alongside a group of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world after a virus wipes out most of humanity.
Speaking about what compelled Scott to make the film for the big screen, he told the Press Association at the world premiere in central London: “Readers like music, and great writing is like great music.
“So once I opened up that page with a good great writer, I listened to the music and I engaged.”
Scott warned audiences to “be careful” and “watch out” noting that the concept of the film is like a world where “you have Covid and then you have financial global collapse in 2008, but greedy banking, then you have something else. You have panic, chaos.
“Pay attention because it is kind of circling the waggon frame.”
The film also stars The Substance actress Margaret Qualley, No Country for Old Men’s Josh Brolin, Memento actor Guy Pearce and Doctor Strange actor Benedict Wong.
Benedict Wong, Guy Pearce, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin and Jacob Elordi
Wong, who reunited with Scott on the film after appearing in The Martian and Prometheus, said the film is a “timely reminder” to be kind in a “divided world”.
He said: “It’s just a reminder of what we need. To be humane, humanity.
“The kindness that we need in a divided world hopefully, that we can take a leaf out of it, or we can take scenes from this movie.
“It’s just a timely reminder of maybe what we need to watch.
“We’ve definitely been in a situation in something that resonated like Covid.
“We’ve lost loved ones and so that’s not so far from the truth.
“It’s hope that centres around this – searching for humanity in devastating times.”
The Dog Stars is out in cinemas on 26 August.
Source: Press Association