Ridley Scott has once again ditched the sword and sandals of Gladiator for another venture into the sci-fi genre. The Oscar-winning filmmaker is back with a post-apocalyptic epic led by an impressive cast, which hits theaters later this year. Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Peter Heller, the film follows a pilot attempting to survive a world in which most of humanity has been decimated by a powerful virus.
The first look at Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars has been released, courtesy of Esquire. Four new photos of the film were published by the outlet, introducing Jacob Elordi as Hig, a pilot who can be seen alongside his plane, dubbed The Beast, and his loyal dog, Jasper. He is joined by Josh Brolin as the gun expert Bangley, who maintains a mysterious past, and Margaret Qualley as Cima, a medic with “no one to heal.” The film follows their fight against invaders and others who wish to bring harm to the world, but it’s “hope” that Scott wants the audience to leave with.
In an interview with Esquire, Scott made it clear that, while he has delivered dystopian pics like the classic Blade Runner, his work on The Dog Stars is far less grim in nature. The film does not necessarily shy away from the dark reality of the post-apocalyptic future, but instead focuses on the characters’ search for meaning. For Scott, he enjoyed that what “came off was the strong feeling of hope. ‘It’ll be okay.’ If you do the right thing, it calls to mind the expression: God helps those who help themselves.”
Of course, fret not. Those expecting to see Scott bring on the action won’t be disappointed, it seems. The ultimate macguffin in The Dog Stars will be the characters looking for their “purpose,” but you can’t introduce a world ravaged by a pandemic and not have “some violence.” Hig and Bangley do what is necessary to protect their small airport in the Rocky Mountains from invaders, with an arsenal of weapons of war ready to be locked and loaded. When it comes to world-building, Hig’s ventures on his plane will take him into different communities, introducing characters played by Margaret Qualley, Benedict Wong, and Guy Pearce.
The Dog Stars is currently set to hit theaters on Aug. 28, 2026. It is based on the 2012 novel by Peter Heller, which Scott is adapting from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, whose previous work includes The Revenant, Overlord, and Twisters. With recent Oscar nominee Elordi at the forefront, the Alien director may have found his next young star, after having collaborated with Paul Mescal in Gladiator II. The Dog Stars was actually originally going to feature Mescal in the lead role, before the Wuthering Heights actor took over. It’s too early to tell if the film will be a triumphant return for Scott to sci-fi filmmaking, but it is hard not to get excited based on the impressive cast and crew attached.
Release Date
March 27, 2026
Writers
Mark L. Smith, Peter Heller
Producers
Michael A. Pruss