20th Century Studios has released a new trailer and poster for The Dog Stars, Ridley Scott's adaptation of Peter Heller's post-apocalyptic bestseller starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley.
Described as "a riveting, epic thriller set in a world where survival is instinct, but humanity is a choice," the movie opens exclusively in theatres on August 28, and also stars Allison Janney, Benedict Wong, and Guy Pearce.
The screenplay is by Mark L. Smith, based upon Heller's novel, and the producers are Scott, Michael Pruss, Mark L. Smith, and Cliff Roberts, with Lily Brooks-Dalton, Brandon Scott Smith, Peter Heller, Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers.
The story focuses on Hig (Elordi), a young pilot who joins forces with a military survivalist, Bangley (Josh Brolin), to carve out an efficient but isolated homestead in a brutal post-apocalyptic world. But when Hig receives a mysterious radio transmission, he ventures into the unknown in search of the hope and humanity he still believes exist.
Elordi spoke about working with the legendary filmmaker during a 2025 appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
“He’s been plugging himself into cinema his whole life — it literally pumps through his blood. When he arrives on set in the morning, the energy he brings carries through the duration of the shoot. He’s living off of cinema. It’s not even about the end product — it’s about the tactile act of going and making a movie.”
“He’s like my dad in a lot of ways,” Elordi went on. “My dad survives because he works. He’s a laboring man, and Ridley Scott labors on these movies. That’s what keeps the engine running. I’m literally watching cinema sustain a life, which is a pretty profound thing to be in Italy watching, you know?”
"The film tells the story of Hig (Jacob Elordi), a young pilot who, together with a military survivalist, Bangley (Josh Brolin), has carved out an efficient but isolated homestead in a brutal post-apocalyptic world. But when Hig receives a mysterious radio transmission, he ventures into the unknown in search of the hope and humanity he still believes exist."