Colorado author Peter Heller’s novel The Dog Stars is set for a major Hollywood film release this summer, with the highly anticipated adaptation scheduled to hit theaters on August 28. The project, featuring Jacob Elordi in a leading role, is driven by acclaimed director Ridley Scott and backed by a $110 million budget, bringing Heller’s story of resilience and survival to a wide audience.
The Dog Stars follows a Colorado pilot named Hig and his dog Jasper as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world after receiving a mysterious radio transmission. The film’s production promises to capture the essence of Heller’s narrative under the direction of Scott, whose involvement has attracted an A-list cast including Oscar winners and nominees.
Production Overview and Star-Studded Cast
The adaptation of The Dog Stars is directed by Ridley Scott, known for landmark films such as Blade Runner and Napoleon. The cast features Oscar-winning and nominated actors including Guy Pearce, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Benedict Wong, and Jacob Elordi, who portrays the protagonist Hig. The star-studded lineup underscores the film’s high-profile nature and Scott’s commitment to bringing the novel’s complex themes to life.
20th Century Pictures is preparing to distribute the movie in theaters on August 28, after years of anticipation and development. The story centers on Hig’s quest for connection and survival in a ravaged world, highlighting themes of loss, hope, and companionship with his dog Jasper.
Peter Heller’s Involvement and Creative Collaboration
Peter Heller, the New York Times bestselling author behind The Dog Stars, played an active role during the film’s production. Unlike many authors, he was welcomed onto the set outside Rome, spending time with the large cast and crew who had engaged deeply with both the English text and its Italian translation. Ridley Scott’s initiative to place hundreds of copies of the book in hotel lobbies helped familiarize everyone involved with the source material.
Heller reflected on the warmth and enthusiasm from the team, highlighting moments where cast members approached him to express admiration for his work.
“It was all of the crew, even the animal handlers,”
he said from his home in Mexico, where he balances writing with surfing.
“I was there a whole three days when Guy Pearce came out of his trailer and grabbed me and said, ‘I loved the book! Great to meet you.’ And he had just gotten an Academy Award! Same (reaction) with Jacob Elordi (who plays protagonist Hig). Same with the costume designer, Janty Yates, who has three Oscars.”
– Peter Heller, Author
Heller acknowledged that many authors are kept distant during film adaptations to avoid clashes over plot or character changes, but his role as executive producer gave him a different experience. He adopted a flexible attitude toward the adaptation process, emphasizing his respect for the artistic transformation of his book into film.
“I don’t expect it to be rendered perfectly as a book on the screen. I’m just really honored and excited that another great artist is inspired to craft a new and discrete work of art,”
Heller said.
A lot of writers don’t go into it with that approach, but I saved myself a lot of heartache that way. It’s angst-free.
– Peter Heller, Author
Script Development and Film’s Creative Team
The screenplay for The Dog Stars was penned by Mark L. Smith, known for his work on critically acclaimed films like The Revenant and Twisters. Smith’s background, having grown up on a large dude ranch in Colorado, provided him with a close connection to the novel’s environmental and cultural setting, making him a fitting choice to adapt Heller’s work.
Heller recounted their first discussion regarding the adaptation.
“I loved ‘The Revenant’ because the landscape is a major character, and it’s that way in a lot of my books, too,”
he shared.
“So I said, ‘Of course, I’d be honored if you take a crack at it.’ And he wrote the screenplay in three months.”
– Peter Heller, Author
Smith’s reputation and the screenplay’s quality helped secure Ridley Scott’s commitment to the project, which rapidly gained a budget exceeding $100 million. The combination of Smith’s writing, Scott’s direction, and a talented cast aims to deliver a cinematic work that honors the novel’s depth and emotional resonance.
Filming Locations and Visual Approach
Although the story is set in Colorado, the film was primarily shot in Italy for various logistical reasons. Heller witnessed firsthand the production’s scale and attention to detail during his visit. An Italian provincial park substituted for Colorado’s Uncompahgre Plateau, while the Dolemite Mountains represented the abandoned Erie airstrip, a pivotal location in the narrative.
Ridley Scott, at 86 years old and managing health challenges, directs from a tent filled with monitors rather than moving freely around the set. Using eight cameras at once, Scott ensures that every shot captures multiple angles without visual interference from the crew or equipment.
On-Set Experience and Emotional Impact
Heller was invited into the heart of the filmmaking process, where he observed notable scenes being shot with Jacob Elordi and Guy Pearce. One scene in particular moved him deeply.
“There’s this scene where we’re filming in a little cabin in a wooded meadow, and Jacob Elordi’s character says to Guy Pearce, ‘Thanks for not killing me,’”
Heller recalled.
“As a gesture of goodwill, he picks up a pot of wildflowers and puts it under a drip in the ceiling. And then he starts talking about how he got there, and how his wife died in the pandemic, and his dog Jasper, and I just started to cry.”
“It was so moving to see this scene that I had written come to life,”
he added.
“Cliff (Roberts, one of the film’s producers) just squeezed my arm and said, ‘This is the response I wanted you to have.’ It was just so friggin’ cool.”
– Peter Heller, Author
The Path to Jacob Elordi as Lead Actor
The casting journey for the protagonist Hig evolved over several years. Initially, actors like Channing Tatum and Paul Mescal were attached to the role, but Jacob Elordi eventually secured the part. Elordi is recognized for his recent Oscar-nominated performance in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and his casting was a significant win for the film.
Heller and Elordi developed a rapport grounded in shared interests, including a mutual appreciation for film history. This connection helped cultivate a collaborative atmosphere vital for bringing the character of Hig to life authentically.
Anticipation and What Lies Ahead
With its high-profile cast, acclaimed director, and substantial budget, The Dog Stars is positioned to be a major cinematic event this summer. The story’s themes of survival, hope, and companionship resonate deeply amid contemporary challenges, offering audiences a powerful narrative experience.
As the release date approaches, audiences can look forward to seeing how Ridley Scott’s interpretation, combined with Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of Hig, transforms Peter Heller’s novel into a compelling and visually striking film that remains true to its Colorado roots despite its Italian backdrop.
