Ridley Scott is one of the most talented and versatile directors of all time. He has dedicated his career to working both as a director and producer, elevating a wide variety of stories.

And his filmography really speaks to his commitment to choosing stories that he is pᴀssionate about. While he has directed big blockbusters, Scott also helmed Thelma & Louise, for example. This was a women-centric film that, as Scott noted, multiple other directors turned down after reading the script.

His last couple of films have leaned into the director’s historical epic side. This includes his 2023 biopic Napoleon as well as last year’s long-awaited sequel Gladiator II. His 2021 movie, The Last Duel also falls within this subgenre.

That said, Scott is far from a one-trick pony. In his career, he has also explored another major genre that he will return to soon.

Ridley Scott’s The Dog Stars Sees Him Return To Sci-Fi – What It’s About

The Movie Is Based On A Book By Peter Heller

Scott’s next feature directorial project is The Dog Stars. This movie will return Scott to the sci-fi genre, which he had stepped away from ever since Alien: Covenant in 2017. The Dog Stars is an adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel of the same name.

The sci-fi movie’s plot focuses on a post-apocalyptic world wherein a virus has destroyed most of humanity. Only a few survive, but those few face groups of roaming scavengers called Reapers. The story centers largely around a man named Hig who lost his wife to the flu.

So far, The Dog Stars‘ confirmed cast includes Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong. The script is co-written by Mark L. Smith and Christopher Wilkinson. It is set for release on March 27, 2025.

Ridley Scott’s Sci-Fi Movie Return Is Very Exciting

He Has Been One Of The Genre’s Leaders

The Dog Stars presents a great opportunity for Scott to return to the sci-fi genre. While not all of his work in this domain has been flawless, this is the director who was behind both Alien and Blade Runner.

Not only were these films well-received in their time periods, but they have gone on to be genre-defining works. Alien kicked off what has become one of the most mᴀssive sci-fi franchises of all time. It just recently had another hit with Alien: Romulus, and has a TV show coming out this August.

Blade Runner has not had nearly as many entries, but had a well-received sequel with Blade Runner 2049 in 2017. This just goes to show how important Scott is to the genre, because his movies have not only been moneymaking, but have kicked off franchises and influenced other movies in the process.

Scott has the chance to make another definitive work of sci-fi with The Dog Stars. While there are no guarantees that it will be nearly as big as something like Alien or Blade Runner, it is nonetheless an exciting return for Scott in the sci-fi genre.

Ridley Scott’s Last Sci-Fi Book Adaptation Worked Brilliantly

Scott Directed The Martian In 2015

Scott is experienced with adapting major sci-fi books to the big screen. His last effort in that regard was The Martian, a 2015 Matt Damon-led film about an astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars and has to find an innovative way to tell people on Earth that he is still alive after using contact.

Andy Weir’s novel was in some ways pretty hard to adapt. The book gets into the nitty-gritty of the story’s scientific logic, including how plants would grow on Mars, and more. Scott took on this challenge in stride.

This really ended up paying off for his The Martian adaptation. The film was a critical and box office hit that went on to be nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture.

The movie also showed just how competent Scott is at adapting sci-fi novels. As he returns to the genre that made him so famous, this track record with The Martian is a great sign going into The Dog Stars.