Ridley Scott is assembling a star-studded ensemble for his next film, The Dog Stars, adding the talents of Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, and Guy Pearce to his Gladiator II follow-up. According to Deadline, Qualley, Brolin, and Pearce join Jacob Elordi in The Dog Stars, which is an adaptation of the post-apocalyptic novel by Peter Heller of the same name. Originally, Scott had tapped Gladiator II star Paul Mescal to star in the film; however, Mescal had to depart the project due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced by Elordi.
Qualley was recently seen in the hit body horror film, The Substance, while Brolin recently reprised his role of Gurney Halleck in Denis Villeneuve’s epic sci-fi sequel, Dune: Part Two. Pearce can be seen in the Oscar-nominated film, The Brutalist, which is currently playing in theaters. Pearce was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film. The Substance, Dune: Part Two, and The Brutalist are also up for Best Picture at the Oscars as three of 2024’s most acclaimed films.
Gladiator II was visually arresting because of Scott’s commitment to practical sets. The Dog Stars is set in a near future where society has changed profoundly. Elordi plays Hig, a civilian pilot living on an abandoned Colorado airbase with his dog. Through an unlikely circumstance, he meets a tough ex-marine called Bangley, played by Josh Brolin, and they must work together to navigate this dangerous and uncompromising new world.
Mark L. Smith, a screenwriter known for The Revenant and Twisters, wrote the adapted screenplay for The Dog Stars. Production on the movie is expected to begin soon; however, there is no official release date yet. This film serves as Scott’s follow-up to Gladiator II, a sequel to his classic 2000 film starring Russell Crowe. The sequel earned $461.7 million at the worldwide box office, making it the 12th highest-grossing film of 2024, just $4 million shy of the original’s global gross.
Though Gladiator II was not as overwhelmingly praised as the Crowe-led classic, it still received its fair share of praise, earning a 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The trailer for Finn Wolfhard’s Hell of a Summer movie recently dropped, featuring Gladiator II’s Fred Hechinger as a camp counselor in a slasher comedy. Gladiator II is set nearly 20 years after the first film and centers around Lucius, played by Mescal, the son of Maximus and Lucilla, who is forced to become a gladiator after the Roman emperors conquer his home. Seeking revenge upon General Acacius for the death of his wife and conquered home, Lucius heads to Rome only to find himself at the center of a political plot to overthrow the emperors, and must fight to restore the glory of Rome to its people.
Gladiator II stars Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, and Derek Jacobi. Gladiator II is now streaming on MGM+. As anticipation builds for The Dog Stars, Scott’s ability to assemble a talented cast, including the likes of Ridley Scott, indicates that the film is set to become a significant entry in post-apocalyptic cinema.
