Ridley Scott is a filmmaker who doesn't waste time. Known for his rapid-fire shooting style—often wrapping scenes in just a couple of takes while juggling multiple cameras—he keeps his sets moving at breakneck speed. For the stars of his latest sci-fi thriller, The Dog Stars, that meant learning to let go and trust the process. "There's something liberating in you having to submit to his process," Jacob Elordi told Collider. "You just have to dive in, and you have to trust him."
Based on Peter Heller's bestselling novel, The Dog Stars marks Scott's return to science fiction after nearly a decade. The story unfolds in a world ravaged by a virus, where a young pilot named Hig (Elordi) teams up with a hardened survivalist, Bangley (Josh Brolin), to carve out a safe haven. When Hig picks up a mysterious transmission, he ventures into the unknown, crossing paths with another survivor, Cima (Qualley). The cast also includes Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong, and Allison Janney.
Why Apocalypse Stories Hit Different Right Now
In a world that often feels like it's teetering on the edge, end-of-the-world narratives have a unique pull. Elordi muses, "I wonder if it's like that Netflix murder documentary thing. It's the reality that's not yours, but it could be. It's not satisfying to watch it happen to other people, but it's helpful to keep it in your back pocket to know that it's possible." It's a way of confronting our collective fears, perhaps making them a little less terrifying.
Riding the Ridley Scott Rollercoaster
Working with Scott is an experience unlike any other. Elordi recalls a moment when he and his co-stars asked for another take, only to watch the director's Maybach pull away. "We were like, 'I guess not. I guess not one more.'" But that intensity has its perks. With multiple cameras rolling, every actor is always in the spotlight, giving their all. "Everyone's giving it 110% because you know you've only got three or four takes," Elordi explains. "You can't overthink. You just have to dive in."
Qualley echoes that sentiment, describing the experience as a "heightened experience" of surrendering control. "So much of my job is reckoning with the fact that we don't have control," she says. "This was a kind of heightened experience of that."
Reworking the Script on Weekends
Beyond their on-screen performances, Elordi and Qualley also got to contribute to the film's script, spending weekends refining dialogue and scenes. This collaborative spirit extended to their off-screen camaraderie, with the pair playfully recommending each other's work. Qualley points to Elordi's performance in The Narrow Road to the Deep North, while Elordi cites her unforgettable entrance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as a standout.
Both actors have exciting projects on the horizon. Elordi is set to work with Ari Aster, while Qualley has teamed up with Parker Finn, the mind behind Smile. As for The Dog Stars, it's a film that promises to be as intense and unpredictable as its director. For fans of edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this one is a must-watch.
