Ridley Scott to Reunite with Paul Mescal on Next Film ‘The Dog Stars’ at 20th Century

Are you not entertained? Ridley Scott sure is. He’s looking to reunite with his “Gladiator II” lead Paul Mescal for what will be his next film.

Scott is set to direct “The Dog Stars” at 20th Century Studios, and Mescal is in advanced talks to star in the film, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire.

“The Dog Stars” is based on a 2012 novel of the same name by Peter Heller, which is a post-apocalyptic story about a man living alone in an airplane hangar in Colorado with his dog and another companion after a pandemic has ravaged the earth’s population, only for them to venture out once they hear a strange transmission come through on the radio of his old Cessna.

Mark L. Smith, who wrote “The Revenant,” “Twisters,” and “The Boys in the Boat,” is adapting the book for the screen.

It’s expected that “The Dog Stars” will be Scott’s next film, and the hope is they can film sometime next fall. Shooting would have to begin after Mescal completes his run on Broadway as Stanley Kowalski in a production of “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

Scott is also lined up to direct a biopic on the Bee Gees, though that film could wait until fall 2025. Scott, at 86 years old, seems to never slow down.

Smith and Cliff Roberts are producing “The Dog Stars,” as is Scott Free, the director’s production banner.

“Gladiator II,” which opens November 22, figures to be one of the bigger box office draws of the fall as the long-awaited follow-up to Scott’s Best Picture winner “Gladiator” from 2000.

Mescal is represented by CAA. Smith is represented by Syndicate Entertainment, CAA, and attorney Mark Temple.

Deadline first reported the news.