The dog stars trailer has become one of the most talked-about pieces of movie marketing this summer, giving audiences their first extended look at Ridley Scott’s upcoming post-apocalyptic thriller. Released ahead of the film’s August 28 theatrical debut, the trailer showcases a haunting vision of a world left in ruins, anchored by a powerful ensemble cast and a story about what remains of humanity after everything else has fallen apart. With the film now heading into its final promotional push, including a starry London premiere, interest in the trailer and everything surrounding the project has surged.
What the Trailer Reveals
The final trailer for “The Dog Stars” dropped in mid-July, offering the clearest picture yet of the film’s tone, characters, and stakes. Directed by Ridley Scott and based on Peter Heller’s bestselling novel of the same name, the movie is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a deadly virus has wiped out most of humanity. The story follows Hig, a pilot played by Jacob Elordi, who has survived the outbreak but lost his wife in the process. Alongside Josh Brolin’s character Bangley, a hardened military survivalist, Hig has built a fragile but functioning homestead where the two men have learned to endure amid constant threats.
The footage opens with Hig and his dog surveying the wasteland from his small yellow biplane, drifting over the ruins of what was once a thriving city. Woven throughout the trailer are quiet, reflective moments of Hig recalling life before the collapse, including simple memories like being with his wife and spending time with his dog. These flashes of normalcy are set against a bleak, dangerous present, where wild dogs roam the abandoned streets of Denver and survival requires constant vigilance.
A pivotal narrative thread emerges when Hig hears a mysterious radio transmission, a signal that suggests other survivors may still exist beyond his isolated homestead. That transmission sets the plot in motion, pushing Hig to leave the relative safety of what he knows in search of answers. The trailer also introduces Margaret Qualley’s character, Cima, a woman Hig encounters during his journey. An immediate bond of trust forms between them, though not everyone shares that same sense of safety. Guy Pearce’s character voices suspicion toward Hig, noting that his group has strict rules about how to handle unknown outsiders, hinting at the tension and danger that will follow.
The trailer is scored to Nine Inch Nails’ haunting track “The Day the World Went Away,” which reinforces the film’s somber, elegiac tone. Rather than leaning into typical action-movie spectacle, the marketing for “The Dog Stars” has consistently emphasized isolation, loss, and the quiet, aching hope that human connection might still be possible even after civilization has crumbled.
Cast and Creative Team
“The Dog Stars” brings together a critically acclaimed ensemble. Jacob Elordi leads the film as Hig, continuing a run of high-profile projects that have positioned him as one of the industry’s most sought-after young leading men. Josh Brolin plays Bangley, the survivalist who becomes Hig’s closest ally, while Margaret Qualley portrays Cima, the woman whose appearance in the story reshapes Hig’s understanding of what may still exist in the wider world. Guy Pearce, Allison Janney, and Benedict Wong round out the supporting cast, each playing survivors whose presence adds further complexity to the fractured world Scott has built on screen.
Jacob Elordi was not the film’s original lead. Paul Mescal had initially been attached to the role, but scheduling conflicts tied to Sam Mendes’ four-film Beatles biopic project led to a casting change, with Elordi ultimately stepping into the part of Hig.
Ridley Scott directs from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, who adapted Peter Heller’s novel for the screen. The film is produced by Scott alongside Michael Pruss, Smith, and Cliff Roberts, with Lily Brooks-Dalton, Brandon Scott Smith, Peter Heller, and Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers. Behind the camera, cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt brings his visual eye to the desolate landscapes central to the story, while composer Harry Gregson-Williams handles the film’s original score. The production reportedly carried a budget of around $110 million, reflecting the scale of the post-apocalyptic world Scott and his team have constructed for the film.
Notably, Josh Brolin has spoken about the demanding nature of the shoot, revealing that he nearly walked away from the production after a difficult first day on set. That candid admission has added an extra layer of intrigue to the film’s press cycle, underscoring just how physically and emotionally taxing the shoot may have been for its cast.
Margaret Qualley’s Premiere Moment
Public attention around “The Dog Stars” reached a new peak this week following the film’s world premiere in London. Margaret Qualley walked the red carpet at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 20 wearing a striking and controversial pair of Chanel sandals that quickly became one of the most discussed fashion moments tied to the film’s rollout. The shoes, which come from Chanel’s Cruise 2027 collection, forgo a traditional sole entirely. Instead, the design features only a heel cap and ankle straps, creating the illusion that Qualley was walking almost completely barefoot.
The sandals were first unveiled in April as part of designer Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel Cruise collection and had already generated significant buzz online before Qualley’s premiere appearance. They have reportedly never been made available for public purchase through Chanel’s website, adding to their exclusivity and mystique. Qualley paired the sandals with a dramatic black dress from the Chanel Resort 2027 collection, featuring a shaggy, fringed texture that gave the look a bold, untamed quality fitting for a film centered on survival and wilderness. She completed the outfit with chunky diamond earrings, a black manicure and pedicure, and tousled hair, styled for the event by Danielle Goldberg.
The choice sparked considerable conversation on social media, with reactions ranging from admiration to bewilderment. Some praised the daring nature of the look, while others questioned the practicality of nearly soleless shoes on a red carpet. Fans and fashion commentators noted that the barefoot aesthetic cleverly echoed the film’s premise, in which survivors of a pandemic must navigate a harsh, untamed landscape. The premiere’s red carpet setup reportedly leaned into this theme as well, featuring dirt and wild greenery designed to evoke the post-apocalyptic world depicted in the movie.
Qualley has long been closely associated with Chanel, serving as a brand ambassador for years and frequently wearing the label’s designs at major public appearances, including her own 2023 wedding. Her willingness to embrace an unconventional, talked-about shoe style at such a high-profile event reflects both her personal fashion confidence and the ongoing collaborative relationship between the actress and the storied fashion house.
Premiere Details and Release Timeline
The London premiere marked one of the final major promotional stops before “The Dog Stars” opens in theaters and IMAX on August 28. The event brought together much of the film’s principal cast, offering fans and press their first extended look at the ensemble together in a formal setting following months of trailer releases and promotional interviews. With the theatrical release now just days away, marketing efforts have intensified, and the trailer continues to circulate widely as anticipation builds.
The film’s story picks up roughly nine years after a devastating flu pandemic has killed the majority of the world’s population. Survivors face constant threats, including a group of dangerous, nomadic scavengers referred to in the film as Reapers. Hig’s journey, sparked by the mysterious radio transmission featured prominently in the trailer, forms the emotional and narrative core of the movie as he searches for remaining pockets of humanity while confronting the dangers of a lawless, fractured world.
While the film has generated strong early buzz through its trailer and premiere coverage, official reviews and audience reactions had not yet been widely published at the time of this writing. As press screenings and early reactions continue to roll out ahead of the wide release, more detailed critical response is expected in the coming days.
Final Thoughts
The dog stars trailer has successfully set the tone for what promises to be one of the more emotionally resonant post-apocalyptic films in recent memory, blending Ridley Scott’s signature visual scale with an intimate story about loss, survival, and the enduring hope for human connection. With a strong cast led by Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley, along with a premiere moment that has already generated significant cultural conversation thanks to Qualley’s daring Chanel footwear, the film enters its release week with considerable momentum. As August 28 approaches, audiences can expect continued coverage of the film’s rollout, its cast’s press appearances, and reactions from critics and moviegoers alike.
Stay tuned for more updates on The Dog Stars as its release date approaches, and share your thoughts on the trailer and premiere looks in the comments below!