Ridley Scott's Post-Apocalyptic 'The Dog Stars' Lands in Theatres This Week
Ridley Scott's "The Dog Stars" opens in global theatres and IMAX on 28 August, the 88-year-old British filmmaker's first release since 2024's "Gladiator II." The film was originally slated for 27 March 2026 before 20th Century Studios shifted it to its current late-August slot (Marcus Theatres).
The movie had its world premiere in London on 20 August. In the days before that premiere, 20th Century Studios held press screenings and allowed attendees to post brief social-media reactions, while full critic reviews stayed under embargo until 25 August (The Hollywood Reporter). Those early reactions praised Scott's visual command of the material but flagged mixed feelings about the script.
Based on Peter Heller's 2012 novel, "The Dog Stars" is set nine years after a flu pandemic has wiped out most of humanity. Jacob Elordi plays Hig, a former civilian pilot clinging to a quiet life in a collapsed world. Josh Brolin co-stars as Bangley, an ex-Marine who serves as Hig's gruff, heavily armed companion. The ensemble also includes Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, Guy Pearce and Benedict Wong. Mark L. Smith, who wrote the survival thriller "The Revenant," adapted the screenplay.
Scott discussed his approach to the project in the August 2026 issue of Empire magazine, which reached UK newsstands on 2 July (20th Century Studios). Most of the film was shot on location in Italy, using multiple cameras to capture the sweeping, depopulated landscapes that the story demands (Reuters).
For Scott, "The Dog Stars" continues a late-career stretch of remarkable productivity. He turned 88 in November 2024, the same year "Gladiator II" grossed over $460 million worldwide. He is already lined up to direct "Treasure Island" next, from a script by Jack Thorne — co-creator of the Netflix series "Adolescence" — with Hugh Jackman attached to star (The Hollywood Reporter).
For audiences, the late-August slot places "The Dog Stars" in the corridor where studios often slot films that need room to breathe before the autumn prestige season begins. The IMAX engagement signals that 20th Century sees the film's scale — wide skies, empty landscapes, aerial sequences — as a theatrical draw rather than a streaming afterthought. Whether Scott's visual reputation translates into sustained box-office business will become clear once Monday actuals arrive after the opening weekend.
