Josh Brolin is telling Empire Magazine that he almost quit Ridley Scott’s “The Dog Stars” after being unsettled by Scott’s unusual way of making the film, which co-stars Jacob Elordi.
In the interview, the actor says Scott’s loose approach on the ‘Dog Stars’ set immediately threw him off. Brolin said, “it bugged me out, and I got really scared.”
That discomfort escalated quickly into full panic. After just his first day, he left set and called his agent, convinced something was fundamentally wrong. In that moment, he said, “I want out. Something’s really wrong, and I’ve got to get the f*ck out of here.”
This wasn’t gradual hesitation—it was an immediate urge to walk away from the entire film. His agent urged him to pause and recover, suggesting he rest, but Brolin initially rejected the idea, insisting, “No, man, I know what the f*ck you’re doing. It’s not one of those day-things.”
After a brief adjustment period, things eventually settled down. Looking back, Brolin described Scott’s process as “stratospherically creative and stratospherically dangerous,” admitting it ultimately became a “satisfying” experience.
This is not the first time someone has commented on Scott’s nonchalant directing style. Back in November 2024, cinematographer John Mathieson, a longtime collaborator of Scott’s, appeared to criticize him, claiming Scott had become a “lazy” filmmaker who “rushes” to get things done. He further added that Scott’s current approach had negatively impacted the quality of his recent films, including their look and feel.
He went on to say that Scott had “changed” and was now “quite impatient” on set, which he felt had a detrimental effect on the finished production.
Suffice it to say, Mathieson has not worked with Scott since making these comments.
What’s truly perplexing is how a rising talent like Powell, whose star had been steadily ascending thanks to smart film choices, would attach himself to a live-action Disney spinoff.