Speaking of Ridley Scott, here’s some news on his latest film, “The Dog Stars,” which I’m officially stamping with a red flag.
It’s not just that the latest trailer makes it look generic; it’s more the fact that the R-rated film reportedly tested terribly, has a release date long considered a dumping ground (the last week of August), and carries a $110M budget. I’d be shocked if this film doesn’t bomb or gross less than $70M worldwide — there barely seems to be an audience for it.
Jacob Elordi stars in the lead role, joined by Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong. I’ve written more about the issues plaguing this film — here and here.
Set after a deadly pandemic, the film follows a pilot named Hig (Elordi), whose small comforts — his plane and his dog — mirror Scott’s childhood coping mechanisms. His interactions with the guarded survivor Bangley (Brolin) and the hopeful medic Cima (Qualley) explore why people keep living when the world seems lost.
“The Dog Stars” is an adaptation of Peter Heller’s post-apocalyptic novel. Scott is directing from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith (“The Revenant,” “Twisters”). Harry Gregson-Williams (“Gladiator II”) composed the score, while Erik Messerschmidt serves as cinematographer.
Scott, 88, is coming off “House of Gucci,” “Napoleon,” and “Gladiator II.” He remains one of the industry’s great workhorses, with a fascinating and eclectic filmography that includes both triumphs and misfires. If you want a deeper dive into his career, here’s a critics’ poll I conducted ranking his best and worst films.
“The Dog Stars,” produced and distributed by 20th Century Studios, is scheduled to open in theaters on August 28.
