Jacob Elordi has officially begun filming for The Dog Stars, a gritty sci-fi survival drama directed by the legendary Ridley Scott. Based on the acclaimed 2012 novel by Peter Heller, the story is set in the near future after a global pandemic has decimated the population. Elordi portrays Hig, a pilot who lives in a secluded hangar with his dog and a grumpy ex-Marine, as they navigate a world where resources are scarce and strangers are often dangerous. 

Director Ridley Scott is reportedly utilizing a "naturalistic" visual style for this project, moving away from the high-tech aesthetics of Prometheus or The Martian. The production is filming on location in the high deserts of the United States to capture the desolate beauty of a world reclaimed by nature. Early reports from the set suggest that Elordi has undergone extensive flight training to perform several of the aerial stunts himself, adding a level of authenticity to his portrayal of a lone survivor in the sky.

The film is being positioned as a major contender for the late 2026 awards season, with a scheduled release date of November 20, 2026. Industry insiders are calling it a "meditative thriller," balancing intense action with a deep exploration of human isolation and hope. As Ridley Scott’s first major project following Gladiator II, expectations are incredibly high for how the director will interpret Heller’s poetic prose into a cinematic experience.