Jacob Elordi has been cast to replace Paul Mescal in Ridley Scott’s upcoming dystopian thriller, The Dog Stars. The Saltburn and Euphoria star will lead the film, which is based on Peter Heller’s novel, for 20th Century Studios.
Mescal, who recently worked with Scott on Gladiator II, was initially set to star but had to exit the project due to scheduling conflicts. Last month, Scott hinted that Mescal’s packed schedule, including his upcoming role in a new Beatles film, was the reason for his departure.
Set in a post-apocalyptic future ravaged by a pandemic, The Dog Stars follows Hig, a pilot living on an airbase with an ex-marine and his dog. Elordi will portray Hig, who embarks on a perilous mission after receiving a mysterious radio message suggesting that life still exists beyond the desolate world.
The film’s script is penned by Mark L. Smith, known for his work on Twisters and The Revenant. Elordi’s casting adds another high-profile project to his growing list of roles. He has just wrapped filming for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, in which he plays the monster, and 2025 promises to be a busy year for the actor. He will reprise his role as Nate Jacobs in Euphoria season three and stars alongside Margot Robbie in a new Wuthering Heights adaptation, directed by Emerald Fennell.
In addition, Elordi will appear in the upcoming series The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which also stars Ciarán Hinds. Though a release date has not yet been announced, the five-part series has already garnered significant attention following BBC’s acquisition of the rights to Richard Flanagan’s novel.
Fans of Elordi can look forward to an exciting slate of upcoming projects, with The Dog Stars marking yet another thrilling addition to his repertoire.