We’re Officially 3 Months Away From A Sci-Fi Master’s Return

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2026 promises a resurgence of big-screen science fiction. Steven Spielberg, known for his classic sci-fi films, will return to the genre with Universal’s Disclosure Day in just a few weeks. And later in the year, J.J. Abrams will release The Great Beyond, his first original sci-fi movie in fifteen years.

As a huge movie fan, I’m really excited to see Ridley Scott back at it! He’s responsible for some of the greatest sci-fi films ever made, starting with the original Alien back in 1979 – a truly terrifying and groundbreaking movie. Then, he tackled Philip K. Dick’s work and gave us Blade Runner in ’82. It didn’t immediately become a hit, but over time, it’s become a total classic and one of my all-time favorites.

Although Ridley Scott is known for a variety of films, he’s particularly famous for his science fiction work. He’s directed three films in the Alien series and produced many more. Plus, before the upcoming success of Project Hail Mary in 2026, he successfully adapted Andy Weir’s novel The Martian.

Scott is directing a new science fiction film called The Dog Stars, set to release on August 28, 2026. The movie stars Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin, and it marks the director’s return to the sci-fi genre in just three months.

The Dog Stars Is Ridley Scott’s First Sci-Fi Movie In Nearly A Decade

Fans are always eager for a new science fiction film from Scott, and this one feels particularly noteworthy after a long wait. He hasn’t directed a sci-fi movie for theaters since 2017’s Alien: Covenant. This follows a pattern – he previously took a thirty-year break between Blade Runner and Prometheus, and now another nine years have passed before The Dog Stars.

Despite stepping back, Sir Ridley Scott remained involved in science fiction. He directed the first two episodes of HBO Max’s Raised by Wolves and was an executive producer on the show. He also worked closely with director Fede Álvarez on Alien: Romulus.

Ridley Scott Sci-Fi Movies Release Year
Alien 1979
Blade Runner 1982
Prometheus 2012
The Martian 2015
Alien: Covenant 2017
Raised by Wolves (TV show) 2020
The Dog Stars 2026

Finally, The Dog Stars marks the director’s return to feature films. After focusing on dramas and historical pieces for the past ten years, it will be interesting to see his take on science fiction, a genre he hasn’t explored before.

The Dog Stars Is A New Type Of Ridley Scott Sci-Fi Movie

What makes The Dog Stars particularly interesting for Scott is that it’s his first venture into post-apocalyptic science fiction. The movie adapts Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, following a pilot played by Elordi and a former Marine played by Brolin as they navigate life on Earth after a devastating flu pandemic wipes out most of the population.

Stories about worlds after a major disaster are incredibly common in science fiction, so it’s odd that director Ridley Scott hasn’t fully explored this type of setting himself. While films like Alien, Prometheus, and Alien: Covenant are set with humanity off-world, they don’t focus on what’s happened to Earth. His other films, like Blade Runner, show a vibrant future, and The Martian is set in the present day.

This new direction for Scott makes The Dog Stars feel innovative, even for a seasoned sci-fi filmmaker like him. Although it brought some difficulties and exciting possibilities, the movie appears to be a success. Scott himself has even suggested that The Dog Stars could be his best work yet, demonstrating his strong belief in his ability to tell this post-apocalyptic story.

It’s still too early to say if The Dog Stars will live up to the hype, but we’ll find out in three months.

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2026-05-28 20:32