‘The Dog Stars’ Trailer Teases a Brutal Post-Apocalyptic Survival World

The new trailer for Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars warns that in the aftermath of the apocalypse, the real danger might not be the world—but the people still left alive.

Starring Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Josh Brolin (Weapons), and Margaret Qualley (The Substance), the intense survival thriller is set to hit theaters on August 28, 2026.

Based on Peter Heller’s bestselling novel, The Dog Stars is set in a shattered future where humanity has collapsed into scattered pockets of survival.

The official synopsis reads:

“Set in a world where survival is instinct, but humanity is a choice, the story follows Hig, a young pilot who, together with military survivalist Bangley, has built an isolated and efficient homestead in a brutal post-apocalyptic landscape. A mysterious radio transmission soon pushes Hig to leave everything behind and venture into the unknown in search of hope—and what remains of humanity.”

In this world, trust is rare, silence is deadly, and every encounter could be the last.

Alongside Elordi, Brolin, and Qualley, the film also stars Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong, and Allison Janney.

The screenplay is written by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant, Overlord), with Ridley Scott producing alongside Michael Pruss, Smith, and Cliff Roberts.

Ridley Scott hints that audiences shouldn’t expect a purely bleak experience:

“I think people will be surprised and engaged, actually. I would say, hmm… charmed as well. Although, there is some violence.”

The Dog Stars looks to blend emotional survival drama with harsh post-apocalyptic tension, turning a simple message into something far more unsettling: sometimes the most dangerous thing left in the world is humanity itself.