Ridley Scott has officially returned to the sci-fi genre with his adaptation of Peter Heller’s acclaimed 2012 novel, The Dog Stars. Released in theaters nationwide this weekend via 20th Century Studios, the film explores survival, loneliness, and fragile hope in a quiet, haunting post-apocalyptic world.
Set in a landscape devastated by a global pandemic, The Dog Stars follows Hig (Jacob Elordi), a civilian pilot living in an abandoned Colorado air hangar alongside his fierce, gun-toting companion Bangley (Josh Brolin) and his beloved dog, Jasper. When a mysterious voice crackles through the radio receiver of his 1956 Cessna plane, Hig risks everything to fly beyond his safe perimeter to find out if something better exists beyond the horizon.
Original Cast & Crew Insights
In recent press tour interviews, the cast and crew broke down the emotional weight behind bringing Heller’s beloved story to life on the screen.
Jacob Elordi on the Emotional Core: “Hig isn’t your typical post-apocalyptic action hero,” Elordi shared in a red carpet press feature with 20th Century Studios. “He’s a man who has lost almost everything, yet he refuses to let go of his capacity to love and hope. That vulnerability is what drew me to the character.”
Josh Brolin on Working with Ridley Scott: Speaking with Fandango, Brolin praised Scott’s ability to find humanity amid devastation: “Ridley doesn’t just build massive worlds; he zeroes in on the raw human dynamic. Working with him on this set felt like a masterclass in tension and quiet intimacy.”
Ridley Scott on the Film’s Tone: In an extended cast and director panel, Scott noted: “Science fiction often focuses on the chaos of collapse. With ‘The Dog Stars’, we wanted to focus on the day after the chaos—how ordinary people hold onto their humanity when the world around them has stopped.”
Watch: The Cast and Director Discuss ‘The Dog Stars’
Catch the official Meet the Survivors featurette and interview with the cast and director as they discuss bringing the story to the big screen:
At a Glance: ‘The Dog Stars’
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: Mark L. Smith (based on the novel by Peter Heller)
Cast: Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong
Release Date: August 28, 2026 (Now in theaters)
The Dog Stars is currently playing in theaters and IMAX nationwide.
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