The Dog Stars, the upcoming sci-fi thriller starring Jacob Elordi, has been hit with a release date delay. Directed by Ridley Scott, the post-apocalyptic film was initially slated for release on 27 March 2026, but has now been pushed back by a couple of months.
Based on Peter Heller’s 2012 book of the same name with a script penned by Mark L Smith, The Dog Stars will now be released in cinemas on 28 August 2026.
Taking the film’s initial March slot is the highly-anticipated horror sequel Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which sees Samara Weaving reprise her role from the first movie.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future following a pandemic that has depleted human life on Earth, The Dog Stars follows Elordi as a pilot named Hig, who lives on an abandoned airbase with his dog and an ex-marine.
After receiving a radio message, Hig embarks on a dangerous mission in search of other humans and a better life.
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Earlier this year it was revealed that Elordi had taken over the role of Hig from Paul Mescal, who cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for his departure from the project.
Over on Amazon, the film’s source material has a rating of 4.4 out of 5, with readers praising Heller’s book for its “gripping” and “brilliant” story.
One reader called the post-apocalyptic book “brilliant”, adding: “Original plot believable characters with human faults like us all. Generates tension and action in a measured but thoroughly exciting way. Couldn’t put it down and can’t wait for the film to come out!”
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“A true literary masterpiece. Rolling rhythmic poetic prose, deep metaphors and allusions, all woven into a truly gripping story that speaks of love, loss, and what it means to be human,” penned another fan of the book. “Just a wonderful, touching, inspiring tale. Thank you Peter Heller, you spoke to my soul and my heart, and made my spirit sing.”
Another reader said: “This is an absolutely breathtaking book, with the power to move you, to make you feel and experience the fragility of human experience and the nature of loss in heart wrenching detail.”
The Dog Stars is released in cinemas on 28 August, 2026.
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Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.Â
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.Â
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.