Ridley Scott‘s forthcoming dystopian thriller The Dog Stars is continuing to cast up after previously landing Jacob Elordi as the lead.
Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce are in final talks to star in the movie for 20th Century Studios. Mark L. Smith wrote the script, adapting Peter Heller’s 2012 apocalyptic novel of the same name.
The Dog Stars centers on a civilian pilot living on an abandoned airbase with his dog and an ex-Marine amid a devastating pandemic. A random transmission picked up by the pilot’s radio from his 1956 Cessna offers hope for a better life.
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The Hollywood Reporter reported last month that Elordi was in early negotiations to replace Paul Mescal. Scott told the crowd at a Gladiator II screening in December that Mescal would likely drop out of reteaming with him in The Dog Stars due to the actor being busy with Sam Mendes’ four-film Beatles project. Sony has not confirmed Mescal’s rumored casting as Paul McCartney.
Smith and Cliff Roberts serve as producers on The Dog Stars, which hails from Scott’s Scott Free banner.
Qualley earned praise for her role in last year’s The Substance and can be seen later this year in the features Honey Don’t! and Happy Gilmore 2. Brolin’s forthcoming films include Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and Edgar Wright’s remake of The Running Man. Pearce is nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar for his role in The Brutalist, marking his first Academy Award nod.
Deadline was first to report the addition of Qualley, Brolin and Pearce.
