Jacob Elordi Stars in Ridley Scott’s Post-Apocalyptic Film ‘The Dog Stars’
Ridley Scott is set to take viewers on a unique journey with his upcoming film, ‘The Dog Stars’. Departing from his usual themes of space, ancient battles, or futuristic settings, the iconic director is diving into a devastated version of Earth where survival is the only rule.
Adapted from Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, ‘The Dog Stars’ centers around Hig, portrayed by Jacob Elordi, a man navigating life after a catastrophic flu virus wipes out a significant portion of humanity. Accompanied only by his dog and an old Cessna airplane, Hig embarks on a quest for signs of life and hope while protecting his small world from perilous survivors.
The first glimpse of Elordi’s character showcases a more grounded and physically demanding role for the actor, who has recently been seen in projects like ‘The Narrow Road to the Deep North’, ‘Frankenstein’, and ‘Wuthering Heights’. This film allows him to embody a character that is a stark contrast to his previous roles, as Hig must depend on survival instincts, patience, and his bond with nature.
Empire interviewed Ridley Scott about the film, where he expressed his initial hesitance to create another narrative centered on the apocalypse. With numerous post-apocalyptic films already available, Scott aimed to ensure ‘The Dog Stars’ presented a fresh perspective.
“We’re doing too many end-of-the-world stories,” Scott remarked. “This is not ‘The Road’. I did not want to do ‘World War Z’ again; no zombies, please. I thought, ‘What the fuck am I gonna do here?’”
What ultimately drew Scott to the project was its emotional depth. Rather than solely depicting destruction and violence, he recognized a narrative about human connection and the necessity for companionship in the bleakest of times.
Scott noted that the script by Mark L. Smith, who is known for ‘The Revenant’, helped him identify the optimistic elements within the story. “There’s a lot of optimism within the context of the story, and the bottom line is, people do need people,” Scott stated.
While ‘The Dog Stars’ is categorized as a survival drama, Scott clarified that crafting action scenes was never his primary focus. The director, famed for works like ‘Gladiator’, ‘Alien’, and ‘Black Hawk Down’, mentioned that intense sequences come naturally to him.
“No action scene is challenging for me, dude,” Scott joked. “Are you fucking kidding? It’s easy.”
Initially, Scott considered Paul Mescal for the role of Hig after collaborating with him on ‘Gladiator II’. However, due to Mescal’s scheduling conflicts with another significant project, Scott turned his attention to Elordi.
The director had already been intrigued by Elordi and quickly recognized him as the ideal candidate. Scott shared with Empire that Elordi’s real-life persona made him a perfect fit for the role.
“His background is a farm lad,” Scott noted. “He can drive tractors, he’s great with dogs, and he’s a very outdoors, practical kind of guy. I met with him, and that was it.”
With Scott’s expertise in crafting large-scale films and Elordi infusing fresh energy into the lead role, ‘The Dog Stars’ promises to be a distinct survival tale. Instead of merely focusing on the downfall of civilization, the film aims to delve into what individuals cling to when everything else has been stripped away.
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