Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic movie, latest film was Gladiator 2, starring Paul Mescal as Lucius, and ahead of its release in November 2024, it was reported that Ridley Scott and the lead star were already reuniting for another movie, The Dog Stars. However, in December, Scott said the reunion might not happen since Mescal will be busy filming the Beatles biopics.

Now, Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic movie has officially lost its lead star, but gained another. According to Variety, Jacob Elordi is in talks to replace Paul Mescal in Ridley Scott's next movie, The Dog Stars, at 20th Century Studios. Elordi is still in early negotiations, though his deal is expected to close, and would play a pilot named Hig who forms an unlikely friendship with a gruff gunman as they struggle to survive against a wandering group of scavengers known as the Reapers.

With a script by Mark L. Smith (Twisters) and Christopher Wilkinson (Ali), adapted from Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, The Dog Stars revolves around a devastating flu pandemic that nearly eradicates humanity.

What Jacob Elordi Replacing Paul Mescal Means For The Dog Stars

It's Largely A Lateral Move

Jacob Elordi and Paul Mescal are two of the hottest young stars in Hollywood, so replacing one with the other is largely a lateral move for The Dog Stars. Though Ridley Scott was originally planning to reunite with his Gladiator 2 star, Mescal had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts involving Sam Mendes' Beatles biopics, in which he is reportedly playing Paul McCartney. Meanwhile, at 87 years old, Scott is set to continue his ever-prolific pace as The Dog Stars is expected to be his next project after his Bee Gees biopic at Paramount.

During a December discussion with fellow filmmaker Christopher Nolan after a Gladiator 2 screening, Ridley Scott suggested that Mescal's involvement in The Dog Stars might be in jeopardy, saying "Paul is actually tied up, working on the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go."

However, like Mescal, Elordi also has a busy schedule ahead of him with Euphoria season 3 finally filming this month. He's also set to star alongside Margot Robbie in Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights, which is also scheduled to begin production in early 2025. With Scott reportedly aiming for a spring 2025 start for The Dog Stars, it remains uncertain which, if any, of these projects will be rescheduled to accommodate Elordi’s potential involvement.

Our Take On Jacob Elordi Starring In The Dog Stars

He Continues Collaborating With Top-Tier Directors

Collaborating with Ridley Scott continues Jacob Elordi's run of working with top-tier directors, which is always the sign of a shrewd star and a promising career. Though the Australian actor rose to fame for his role in Netflix’s The Kissing Booth, he has since collaborated with Emerald Fennell on Saltburn, Sofia Coppola on Priscilla, Paul Schrader on Oh, Canada, and Guillermo del Toro on his Frankenstein movie. Collaborating with Ridley Scott on The Dog Stars, one of the few directors who can combine blockbuster potential with awards season heat, is a logical next step for Elordi's career.

Source: Variety