Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” was supposed to star Paul Mescal, but the actor had to suddenly drop out due to his commitment with Sam Mendes’ ‘Beatles’ movies. Variety’s now reporting that Jacob Elordi has replaced Mescal.
Scott’s upcoming adaptation of Peter Heller’s acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel will have Elordi playing Hig, a widowed pilot and one of the few survivors in a world devastated by a global pandemic. Hig leads a solitary existence in an airplane hangar, with only his dog and a gruff gunman for company. His quiet life is suddenly disrupted when he intercepts a mysterious transmission on his Cessna radio, sparking a journey to uncover its origin.
Scott is directing a screenplay written by Mark L. Smith (“Twisters,” “The Revenant”). Production is set to begin in the spring. But, wait, isn’t Elordi also supposed to shoot the final season of HBO’s “Euphoria” and Warner Bros.’ “Wuthering Heights” in the spring? One of these projects has surely been delayed.
Scott’s last two films were “Napoleon” and “Gladiator II,” this next film will be a welcome return to more intimate filmmaking for the 87-year-old director. Still no word yet on whether his ‘Bee Gees’ biopic is still happening, but as far as we’ve heard, and this comes directly from Scott himself, don’t bet too much on it.