The Dog Stars Trailer Is Here — Ridley Scott, Jacob Elordi, and Josh Brolin Take On the Post-Apocalypse

Ridley Scott is going back to the post-apocalypse, and he's bringing one of 2026's buzziest casts with him. The Dog Stars just dropped its first full trailer, and it's shaping up to be the must-see survival epic of late summer. Starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley, the film lands in theaters and IMAX on August 28.

Based on Peter Heller's critically acclaimed 2012 novel, the movie follows Hig (Elordi), a civilian pilot who survives a super-flu that wipes out most of humanity. He hides out in a Colorado hangar with his loyal dog, Jasper, and a grizzled survivalist named Bangley (Brolin). But when a mysterious transmission comes over the radio, Hig takes to the skies in his old Cessna to find out if anyone — and any hope — is still out there.

A Ridley Scott Sci-Fi Comeback

For the legendary director behind Alien, Blade Runner, and The Martian, The Dog Stars marks a return to the kind of grounded, human apocalypse he hasn't touched in years. The script comes from Mark L. Smith, the writer of The Revenant, and the visual scale looks jaw-dropping — shot largely on location in Italy with sweeping aerial sequences that are practically begging for IMAX.

The supporting cast is loaded, too: Allison Janney, Benedict Wong, and Guy Pearce all appear, and the film is produced under 20th Century Studios in collaboration with Scott's Scott Free Productions and Michael Pruss.

Is 'The Dog Stars' the Blockbuster We Need?

Scott has been on a hot streak lately, bouncing between Gladiator II, The Last Duel, and other massive productions. But The Dog Stars feels different — quieter, more intimate, and genuinely emotional at its core. It's the kind of survival story that leans less on spectacle and more on the bond between a man and his dog in a broken world.

Early buzz from CinemaCon was strong, with critics already calling it one of Scott's most human films in years. With Jacob Elordi fresh off his Euphoria fame and a string of high-profile roles, and Margaret Qualley coming off her acclaimed recent work, the trio could be the box-office surprise of the month.

When Can You Watch The Dog Stars?

Mark your calendars: The Dog Stars flies into theaters (and IMAX) on August 28, 2026. If the trailer is anything to go by, it's going to be one of the most talked-about films of the season. The world that was doesn't exist anymore — but this one just might be worth flying to.