The Dog Stars (2026)

[Cremildo]

As they globally barnstorm their Paramount epic Gladiator II, director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal will jump right back in the ring together. Scott has set as his next directorial outing The Dog Stars at 20th Century, with Paul Mescal in advance negotiations to star.

Mark L. Smith adapted the Peter Heller novel. Smith and Cliff Roberts will produce The Dog Stars along with Scott Free.

Scott has been weighing a handful of films for his next project including Paramount’s Bee Gees movie. Sources said that they found a sweet spot for the busy actor to re-team with Scott, and that is why they’ve set this as their next collaboration, with the aim to shoot next spring after Mescal stars on Broadway in A Streetcar Named Desire. Mescal is reprising his turn as Stanley Kowalski from the lauded London production of the Tennessee Williams play.

The Bee Gees film will likely follow for Scott in the fall of 2025, as the director continues his ever-prolific pace.

The Dog Stars is set in a near future where an unnamed pandemic has decimated American society. A civilian pilot lives a lonely life on an abandoned Colorado airbase with his dog and a tough ex-marine. The two men couldn’t be more mismatched but depend on each other to fend off roaming invaders. When a random transmission beams through the radio of his 1956 Cessna, the voice ignites a hope deep inside the pilot that a better life exists outside their tightly controlled perimeter. Risking everything, he flies past his point of no return and follows its static-broken trail.

Though Scott and his cast have been engaged in an international tour of Gladiator II before its November 22 release, the iconic director has always had a knack for getting his next project in order once the previous one is finished. Scott has strong ties with 20th Century and its film chief Steve Asbell, going back to films that include The Martian, Prometheus and most recently the hit Alien: Romulus, which Scott produced.

The scribe, best known for The Revenant, is coming off the hits Twisters, directed by Lee Isaac Chung and starring Glen Powell, and the George Clooney-directed adaptation of The Boys in the Boat. He also has the Netflix series American Primeval with Pete Berg. source

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In our conversation with Mr Scott in September, however, another project came up which he hadn’t, at least to our knowledge, talked about publicly before.

“Science fiction next,” he said, briskly. “It’s already written.”

When we tried to press for a bit more detail, he smilingly replied, “No. But it’s a good one.”

Whether it’s another entry in the Alien or Blade Runner franchises, or something standalone like The Martian, we can only speculate; the filmmaker recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he’s developing a new Alien movie for Fox, so this could potentially be the sci-fi film he’s referring to. +

[starmike]

Just finish the David story, please. Explain the colonists and the eggs on LV-426.

[Michael1989]

Ridley and sci-fi is always a good thing.

[Cremildo]

Scott is already storyboarding (ridleygramming?) this, which Kyle Buchanan from NYT dubs "a sci-fi adaptation."

I think we can rule out it being another Alien movie. Perhaps it's Brave New World, The End of October, The Forever War, or even something completely unexpected.

[Cremildo]

This being an adaptation of The Star Dogs has been confirmed by Deadline, and will be Scott's next movie.

First post updated accordingly.

[Michael1989]

Never heard of it. But sounds good

[Cremildo]

Paul Mescal might have to be recast.

Originally Posted by Ridley Scott

Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go.

[The Debts]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Paul Mescal might have to be recast.

Aw man

[BluBonnet]

+

[Cremildo]

Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin And Guy Pearce Join

Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce are in final talks to join the cast of the 20th Century adaptation of The Dog Stars with Jacob Elordi starring and Ridley Scott directing. Mark L. Smith adapted the Peter Heller novel. Scott and Michael Pruss will produce for Scott Free alongside Smith and Cliff Roberts. Production is scheduled to begin at the end of April on location in Italy.

This follows Scott’s massive global hit Gladiator II, one of the biggest hits of the legendary Scott’s career – with global earnings just short of $500 million . Scott’s films have grossed over $5 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest grossing directors in history.

[Cremildo]

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[Cremildo]

According to Ridley Scott Archives, "It depicts a dilapidated, post-apocalyptic airfield with hangers, a sniper/watchtower and various other derelict buildings where Hig (Jacob Elordi) and Bangley (Josh Brolin) live."

[BluBonnet]

First look at Jacob Elordi on location

[Cremildo]

Benedict Wong joins the cast

Chris Seagers (Alien: Covenant; Raised by Wolves) is the production designer. IMDb lists Erik Messerschmidt (Mank; Ferrari) as the DP.

[BluBonnet]

Release date: March 27, 2026

[BluBonnet]

[DKLou]

Originally Posted by starmike

Just finish the David story, please. Explain the colonists and the eggs on LV-426.

Just stop ruining the Alien mythos, please. Or at least tie up what ruination you’ve already started.

Originally Posted by Michael1989

Ridley and sci-fi is always a good thing.

No, not always.

[DR Herbert West]

I guess this will be the closest he gets to I Am Legend.

[Cremildo]

More set pics. Source: The Walk of Fame magazine

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