With one of the best casts out of any movie set to release in 2026, Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars promises to be a return to form for the legendary sci-fi filmmaker. Ever since making his directorial debut with 1977’s The Duellists and terrifying audiences with 1979’s Alien, Ridley Scott has established himself as one of cinema’s most acclaimed filmmakers. He is known for delivering high-quality historical dramas and crime thrillers, but his most prominent work is in sci-fi.
Despite having a huge passion for science fiction, Scott has taken a nearly decade-long hiatus from the genre. He will return to the genre that launched his illustrious career with the release of The Dog Stars in August 2026, a post-apocalyptic movie adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel that features one of the year’s most star-studded casts, including six of the most talented and popular actors of our time.
The Dog Stars Has One of 2026’s Best Casts (Even Compared to Huge Blockbusters)
Although The Dog Stars’ cast is only six-strong, the movie features some of the biggest names in Hollywood right now, making it an easy candidate for one of 2026’s best casts, even when going up against much larger star-studded lineups. While a title like Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey will star almost everyone working in cinema, and the Russo Brothers’ Avengers: Doomsday will feature actors from countless Marvel movies past, The Dog Stars will spotlight the sheer talent of its limited cast.
Jacob Elordi leads the cast as pilot Hig, bringing one of Hollywood’s biggest rising stars into Ridley Scott’s world. Elordi may be known for The Kissing Booth and Euphoria, but he has also been making waves on the big screen with projects like Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, and Saltburn. So, The Dog Stars will benefit from his inclusion. Similarly, after gaining recognition in The Leftovers prior to Poor Things and The Substance, Margaret Qualley will grace The Dog Stars as Hig’s love interest, a young medic named Cima.
They’ll be joined by far more established cinema legends, including Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men and Avengers: Infinity War) as Bangley and Guy Pearce (Mary Queen of Scots and The Brutalist) as former Navy SEAL Pops, Cima’s father. The remarkable Allison Janney (The West Wing and I, Tonya) and Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange and Weapons) round out the esteemed cast, making The Dog Stars one of the most talent-filled and character-focused sci-fi movies coming up this year.
Despite being so small, this incredible roster brings name recognition, star power, and decades of experience to The Dog Stars. In such an intimate story, there will be nowhere to hide, so a strong cast is essential. With 2026 including epic lineups in The Odyssey, Avengers: Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, and more, it’s impressive that even a movie as small as The Dog Stars will hold its own against them, and that it promises to include some of the year’s strongest (and perhaps award-winning) performances.
The Dog Stars Marks Ridley Scott’s Return to Sci-Fi After 9 Years
The Dog Stars will primarily follow Hig, a former civilian pilot, and Bangley, a hardened former Marine, as they navigate threats and unexpected dangers in a world ravaged by a flu pandemic that has almost eradicated humanity. Adapted for the screen by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant and Twisters), The Dog Stars marks a major milestone for director Ridley Scott, as it will be his first sci-fi movie in nine years, following 2017’s Alien: Covenant.
Ridley Scott and sci-fi have always gone hand-in-hand. 1979’s Alien was his second feature film, and it became one of the most legendary, successful, and long-lasting movies of all time. The same could be said for 1982’s Blade Runner. While Scott made a triumphant return to the sci-fi genre in 2012 to develop prequels to his iconic sci-fi horror, Prometheus and Covenant, fans have not seen any sci-fi adventures from the filmmaker since 2017. So, The Dog Stars will be huge.
Ridley Scott’s love of sci-fi began to grow after he read H.G. Wells’ novels as a child, and his movies have been influenced by classics such as It! The Terror from Beyond Space, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and, of course, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Scott worked on BBC sci-fi shows such as Out of the Unknown and Adam Adamant Lives!, and almost worked on some of Doctor Who’s earliest adventures, firmly establishing sci-fi as the root of the filmmaker’s incredible career.
This makes his 2026 return to the genre even more exciting, especially since The Dog Stars will be one of Scott’s few sci-fi movies not related to the Alien franchise. This independence makes it one of the year’s most exciting movies.
Why The Dog Stars Could Be a Return to Form For Ridley Scott
Not only will The Dog Stars mark a return to the sci-fi genre for Ridley Scott, but the movie is also expected to mark a return to form generally for the acclaimed filmmaker. Scott has produced some major hits over the last five decades, but has also delivered some movies that haven’t fared so well, critically or commercially. This includes a number of his most recent projects, including the 2017 Alien movie.
His other 2017 film, All the Money in the World, flopped at the box office, as did 2021’s The Last Duel, though the latter found financial success in post-theatrical markets. Despite a powerhouse cast, 2021’s House of Gucci received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, as did 2023’s historical epic Napoleon, which suffered at the box office before landing on Apple TV. Even 2024’s Gladiator II failed to match the success of its predecessor, marking an unusually sour chapter in Scott’s career.
Anticipation surrounding The Dog Stars, however, suggests that the movie will perhaps become Ridley Scott’s most popular and successful recent project. There’s no doubt the specific combination of formidable stars such as Elordi, Qualley, Brolin, and others plays a part in this growing excitement. The Dog Stars might be Ridley Scott’s first critically acclaimed movie since 2015’s The Martian, which could set up the legendary filmmaker for an even brighter future.
- Release Date
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August 28, 2026
- Runtime
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100 Minutes
- Director
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Ridley Scott