The first trailer for The Dog Stars has landed, giving audiences a fresh look at Jacob Elordi in director Ridley Scott’s latest sci-fi survival thriller. Released by 20th Century Studios, the two-minute preview introduces a bleak post-apocalyptic world where danger lurks around every corner and trust is in short supply.
Based on Peter Heller’s bestselling novel of the same name, The Dog Stars stars Elordi as Hig, a young pilot trying to survive in a world transformed by catastrophe. The trailer teases a tense journey driven by a mysterious radio transmission, setting the stage for a story that blends survival, hope and human resilience.
What is The Dog Stars about?
According to the official synopsis, the film follows Hig, who has built an isolated but efficient homestead alongside Bangley, a hardened military survivalist played by Josh Brolin.
Life in their remote refuge is defined by routine and caution until Hig picks up an unexpected radio signal. Convinced that the transmission could lead to something more than mere survival, he ventures into the unknown in search of the humanity and hope he believes still exist.
The trailer reinforces the film’s central warning: at the end of the world, it is often the survivors who pose the greatest threat.
Who stars in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller?
Elordi leads an ensemble cast that includes Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Allison Janney, Benedict Wong and Guy Pearce.
The trailer offers brief glimpses of the key characters as they navigate a harsh landscape shaped by isolation, uncertainty and conflict. While much of the plot remains under wraps, the footage suggests a character-driven survival story with high emotional stakes.
Who is behind the film?
Four-time Oscar nominee Ridley Scott directs the adaptation, adding another science-fiction project to a career that includes The Martian and Alien. Screenwriter Mark L Smith adapted the novel for the screen.
Scott, Smith, Michael Pruss and Cliff Roberts serve as producers, while Lily Brooks-Dalton, Brandon Scott Smith, Peter Heller and Aidan Elliott are executive producers.
Release date
With its first trailer now released, The Dog Stars is positioning itself as one of the major sci-fi releases of 2026, bringing together an acclaimed filmmaker, a bestselling novel and a star-studded cast. The film is set to arrive in cinemas on August 28, 2026.
