Jacob Elordi may soon add a Ridley Scott project to his filmography: the actor is reportedly in talks to replace Paul Mescal in Scott’s post-apocalyptic thriller The Dog Stars, based on Peter Heller’s 2012 novel.
Initially, Mescal was slated to reunite with Scott following their collaboration on Gladiator II. However, due to his casting as Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes’ four-part Beatles biopic, Mescal had to step away from the project.
Elordi is now expected to take over the role.
The Dog Stars follows a pilot named Hig (Elordi) who forms a friendship with an ex-Marine gunman while confronting scavengers called Reapers.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by an unnamed pandemic, the story delves into themes of survival and companionship.
The screenplay was co-written by Mark L. Smith (Twisters, The Revenant, The Boys in the Boat) and Christopher Wilkinson (Ali). Smith is producing alongside Cliff Roberts and Scott’s production company, Scott Free.
Ridley Scott plans to begin work on The Dog Stars after completing his Bee Gees biopic for Paramount, which Barry Gibb is executive producing. Scott’s other upcoming projects include the action film Bomb and a lineup of features he will produce.
The Dog Stars was originally announced in 2024 by 20th Century Studios with Mescal attached to star.
However, during a December 2024 Gladiator II panel with Christopher Nolan, Scott confirmed that Mescal would likely have to leave the project due to scheduling conflicts.
“Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next,” Scott said (via Variety). “So I may have to let him go.” Despite this, Scott expressed optimism about collaborating with Mescal again, hinting at the potential for a third Gladiator installment.
Meanwhile, Elordi has a packed schedule. He will reprise his role as Nate in the third season of HBO’s Euphoria and star alongside Margot Robbie in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation for Warner Bros.
Additional projects include the film On Swift Horses and the series The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
Elordi is also set to portray the monster in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, stepping in after Andrew Garfield departed the production.