IRISH actor Paul Mescal is in discussions to lead Ridley Scott’s next directorial project, “The Dog Stars”, which will follow the upcoming release of Gladiator II.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is an adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel and is slated to begin shooting in 2025.
“The Dog Stars”, adapted by Mark L. Smith, takes place in a near-future America ravaged by a pandemic.
The story follows a civilian pilot who lives a solitary life on a desolate Colorado airbase with his dog and a tough ex-marine. The two men, although mismatched, rely on each other to protect themselves from roaming invaders.
When a faint transmission crackles through the pilot’s 1956 Cessna, it sparks hope of a better life, and the pilot embarks on a journey to trace the source of the signal.
Scott will be collaborating with Steve Asbell and 20th Century Studios for the film, which will be produced by Smith, Cliff Roberts, and Scott’s production company Scott Free. Before “The Dog Stars” begins filming, Scott is set to work on an untitled Bee Gees movie for Paramount.
Mescal’s next major project is “Gladiator II”, a sequel to Scott’s acclaimed 2000 film. He will portray a grown-up Lucius Verus II, the nephew of Emperor Commodus, a role previously played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Lucius returns to Rome after being enslaved and seeks to reclaim the glory of Rome as a gladiator in a quest for revenge and power.
The movie, which also stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Connie Nielsen, will be released in India on November 15.
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Aishwarya Rai attends the "La Venue De L'avenir" (Colours Of Time) red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 22, 2025 in Cannes, France.Getty Images
