Ridley Scott’s Post-Apocalyptic Epic ‘The Dog Stars’ Lands 2026 Release with Star-Studded Cast

by

It appears that Ridley Scott never takes a break from directing films, as his upcoming production has already been given a release date in spring 2026. Most recently, he released Gladiator II towards the end of last year, which starred Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington and proved to be a commercial success despite being considered less impactful than the original Gladiator, which Scott also directed. The next film from this prolific director is The Dog Stars, which will feature another strong ensemble cast.

According to an article in The Hollywood Reporter, the upcoming film titled “The Dog Stars,” directed by Scott, is set to hit theaters on March 27, 2026. This post-apocalyptic movie revolves around a civilian pilot residing on an abandoned airbase along with his dog and an ex-Marine, amidst a catastrophic pandemic. A beacon of hope emerges for them when the pilot receives a transmission on his radio from his 1956 Cessna. The film is an adaptation of Peter Heller’s novel bearing the same name.

Previously noted, the movie titled “The Dog Stars” boasts a remarkable ensemble of talented actors, including Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong, and Josh Brolin who have all agreed to appear in the film. Notably, Scott aimed to collaborate with Paul Mescal once more, offering him the lead role for “The Dog Stars” before his obligations to Sam Mendes’ “Beatles” films prevented him from accepting the part. Eventually, Elordi was cast in the role, and filming began in April 2025.

‘The Dog Stars’ Is Another Ambitious Ridley Scott Project

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve noticed that Ridley Scott’s recent cinematic ventures have been marked by substantial budgets, reflecting the director’s lofty aspirations in the later phase of his illustrious career. His latest creations, “Napoleon” and the speculated “Gladiator II,” were both blockbusters with hefty price tags; the former reportedly cost between $130-200 million, while the latter is said to have swelled to an impressive $300 million. Now, there are whispers that “The Dog Stars” will come with a budget of around $100 million. Although this isn’t as grandiose as his previous projects, it clearly demonstrates that Scott remains undeterred and is eager to continue churning out big-budget movies.

In a new venture for Scott, “The Dog Stars” marks his debut into the post-apocalyptic movie genre, a realm he hasn’t delved deeply into in any of his prior feature films. It will be intriguing to witness how this director approaches this genre, considering his past experience with science fiction and his significant contributions to defining it through the sci-fi classics he directed during the early stages of his career.

Apart from his current work on “The Dog Stars”, Scott has mentioned a few other potential projects he’s interested in. Previously, he discussed a biopic focusing on the Bee Gees and even hinted at the possibility of a third “Gladiator” film to wrap up the trilogy and conclude Lucius’ tale. However, for now, fans can eagerly await his next movie set to release in March 2026.

Read More

2025-05-23 22:13