LONDON — The film is based on Peter Heller's 2012 novel of the same name, with a screenplay by Mark L. Smith. Set in the 2030s following a deadly flu pandemic that leaves only immune survivors, the story features scenes of scorched earth resembling wildfire-affected areas. Rak Jasper is one of three dogs that appear in the production.

Scott stated The Dog Stars was inspired by the Covid pandemic and the 2008 global financial crisis. "If you put those two together you've got a great combination of chaos," he said. He added that panic and anarchy follow from such conditions.

The director connected these modern anxieties to his personal history. "I was a war baby so I can remember incendiary bombs dropping on me and we'd have to shelter under the stairs," he said. He noted that the Second World War felt apocalyptic to him as a child.

Elordi, who is 29 years old and from Brisbane, Australia, received an Oscar nomination earlier in 2026 for his role in Frankenstein. He replaced Paul Mescal in the lead role after Mescal dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Elordi described the filming experience as a privilege given Scott's status in the industry. "I would have done any movie he sent through for me to make, it's a privilege to get to work with a pioneer of our industry in my lifetime - it's kind of unfathomable," he said.

Elordi detailed Scott's technical approach during production. "Ridley uses like, ten cameras. And he sits in a trailer and watches A-cam, go to B-cam, go to C-cam and he cuts the film in his head watching the monitors," he said. He added that no other filmmaker works in that manner.

The actor reflected on the film's themes relative to current life. "Everything is sweet for us - we're able to walk around on the street, go to the shops, go to the park, have dinner with each other and we still go to bed and think 'What else is there?', 'What am I missing?', 'What's wrong?' and nothing is," he said.

He noted the strangeness of creating fiction while reality feels proximate. "There were a few moments I remember looking around [on set] and thinking it's strange to be doing this make-believe, when the reality is just behind us and just in front of us," he said. He described the dystopian future as frightening but necessary to examine.

Elordi emphasized the narrative's focus on resilience. "When a wildfire destroys an entire coast, inevitably the nature and the earth rebuilds and regrows," he said. He stated this regrowth provides a note of hope and an idea of redemption within the apocalypse.

Josh Brolin, who stars in the film, described Scott's process as intensely creative and dangerous. Brolin admitted he considered quitting after one day of filming due to the director's methods. He recalled calling his agent to express his desire to leave the production.

Brolin described the approach as "stratospherically creative and stratospherically dangerous." He said he told his agent, "I want out. Something’s really wrong and I’ve got to get the f— out of here." Despite this initial reaction, he respected Scott's artistry.

"I think it helps a lot when the guy is an artist," he said. He recounted a specific instance where Scott visualized a scene instantly. "I had an idea for a scene and as I was describing it, he was drawing, and those are the four shots that we did, almost identically," he said.

Guy Pearce, who stars as Pops, previously worked with Scott on the film Prometheus in 2012. Pearce is from Victoria, Australia, a region damaged by bushfires earlier in 2026. He drew on these experiences when discussing the film's relevance.

Pearce said the film shows "this world we take for granted" and is "pertinent." He noted his awareness of privilege compared to those who lack basic security. "All round the world now there's just more and more effects of climate change so it's pretty terrifying that a lot of those things are not far away," he said.

Critics offered mixed assessments of the final product. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "muted but never dull" and an "appealingly mellow watch." Benjamin Lee of The Guardian gave it a three-star review, calling it "limp and lethargic."

Helen O'Hara of Empire gave the film two stars, stating it "tries to examine the difference between surviving and thriving" but lacks conviction in its answers. Tim Robey of The Telegraph also awarded three stars, noting the action interludes provide "momentary dumb fun."

Scott's career achievements include receiving the Academy Honorary Award in 2026. His films have grossed a cumulative $5 billion worldwide, making him the eighth-highest-grossing director of all time. In 2024, King Charles III appointed Scott a Knight Grand Cross.

The cast also includes Margaret Qualley, Benedict Wong, and Allison Janney. Elordi declined to comment on James Bond casting rumors during the premiere period, stating he was on holiday. He and Kendall Jenner were later spotted dining at Cipriani in London with Elordi's father.

Timeline

On August 27, 2026, The Dog Stars had its world premiere in London. Ridley Scott attended the London premiere of The Dog Stars. Jacob Elordi attended the London premiere of The Dog Stars with dog Rak Jasper.

Elordi wore a navy Bottega Veneta suit to the London premiere of The Dog Stars. Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, and Guy Pearce attended the London premiere of The Dog Stars. Qualley wore a black dress and barefoot sandals to the London premiere of The Dog Stars. During the event, Elordi said at the London premiere, "He pioneered modern cinema. Everything that we watch, everything that we do, Ridley Scott has a hand in it."

On August 28, 2026, The Dog Stars was released in U.S. theaters on August 28, 2026. The film was also released in UK cinemas on that date.

What's New

Additional reporting from the premiere revealed further details about the cast's experience. Jacob Elordi described Ridley Scott as "the king of movies" "and said working with him was" "such a treat — a dream come true." Elordi also said, "I don’t think I’ll ever have an experience like that. Yeah. He’s one of a kind and he’s a pioneer of of modern cinema."

Josh Brolin described Ridley Scott's filmmaking approach as "stratospherically creative and stratospherically dangerous." Brolin considered quitting The Dog Stars after one day of filming due to Ridley Scott's intense process. He said he called his agent to say "I want out. Something’s really wrong and I’ve got to get the f— out of here." Elordi explained the technical method, saying, "Ridley uses like, ten cameras. And he sits in a trailer and watches A-cam, go to B-cam, go to C-cam and he cuts the film in his head watching the monitors."

Why It Matters

The release of The Dog Stars connects contemporary global anxieties to cinematic storytelling. Scott explicitly linked the film's apocalyptic themes to the Covid pandemic and the 2008 global financial crisis, as well as his childhood memories of World War II. The film's setting in the 2030s following a deadly flu pandemic reflects these documented historical and recent events.

The production shows the ongoing influence of established directors on new generations of actors. Elordi, an Oscar nominee in 2026, described working with Scott as a privilege. Scott's status as the eighth-highest-grossing director of all time with $5 billion in worldwide grosses reflects his continued prominence in the industry. The mixed critical reception indicates varied interpretations of the film's subdued tone and thematic execution.