If you’re a fan of epic, “last man on earth” style cinema, you’ll want to clear your schedule for late next summer. Visionary director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) is returning to the post-apocalyptic genre with The Dog Stars, soaring into theaters in August, via 20th Century Studios.
Based on the celebrated 2012 novel by Peter Heller, the script was written by Mark L. Smith, who brought us the gritty survivalism of The Revenant and the high-octane thrills of Twisters.
The Story: A Lonely Pilot in a Broken World
The film takes us to a near-future where a brutal virus has wiped out most of humanity. Those who are left aren’t exactly friendly; survivors spend their days dodging “Reapers,” violent scavengers roaming the wasteland. Hig (Jacob Elordi) is a civilian pilot who has lost everything—his wife, his community, and his future—to the disease. He lives a quiet, isolated life on an abandoned Colorado airbase with only his dog and a grumbly, tough-as-nails ex-Marine named Bangley (Josh Brolin). The two are a total odd couple, but they need each other to keep the Reapers at bay.
Everything changes when a random, static-filled transmission crackles through the radio of Hig’s 1956 Cessna. That one voice ignites a sliver of hope that there’s something better beyond their fence line. Risking Bangley’s wrath and his own life, Hig flies past the point of no return to chase the signal.
A Cast of Heavy Hitters
Ridley Scott has assembled a massive ensemble for this journey. Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein, Euphoria) leads the way as the hopeful pilot. Josh Brolin (Weapons, Dune) plays the hardened protector. The supporting cast includes Guy Pearce (reunited with Scott after Prometheus), Margaret Qualley (The Substance), and Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange).
A Massive Weekend for Movies
Mark your calendars, because August 28, 2026, is looking like a blockbuster showdown. Not only are we getting The Dog Stars, but that same weekend marks the release of the Cliffhanger remake and the legendary, long-delayed Coyote vs. Acme.
