Jacob Elordi, aka that tall, brooding Aussie who makes you question your life choices, might be stepping into a role previously held by Paul Mescal, aka the king of chain necklaces and sad boy vibes.
Paul Mescal was supposed to star in Ridley Scottโs upcoming apocalypse film, The Dog Stars, but apparently, the manโs calendar looks like a game of Tetris. Variety reports heโs too busy recreating Hey Jude vibes in Sam Mendesโ Beatles biopic. (Honestly, is there anyone more Beatles-y than Paul Mescal?)
Enter Jacob Elordi, now reportedly in โearly negotiationsโ to take over the role of Hig, a pilot navigating the end of the world with a cranky, gun-toting buddy. Itโs giving Mad Max, but with fewer leather jackets and more existential dread.
The film is based on Peter Hellerโs 2012 novel The Dog Stars. (Yes, thatโs your cue to either Google it or pretend youโve read it to sound cultured.) Quick recap of the book: Hig, a dude with the worst luck imaginable, lives at an abandoned airport with his dog, Jasper, and his trigger-happy BFF, Bangley. One day, Hig hears a mysterious voice on his radioโbasically the post-apocalyptic version of getting a DM from someone whoโs not a crypto scammer. Naturally, Hig risks life and limb to chase this static-filled dream, only to find that the grass isnโt always greener on the other sideโit might just be radioactive.
As for Jacob, heโll get to flex his brooding pilot vibes while dodging โReapers,โ a band of scavengers who sound like a rejected biker gang from The Walking Dead. If the negotiations work out, this will mark Elordiโs latest move from Euphoria bad boy to Hollywoodโs go-to tall guy for emotionally complex roles.
One question remains: Will Jasper the dog be CGI, or will we get a real canine co-star who steals every scene? Because honestly, weโd all watch The Dog Stars for Jasper alone.
Stay tuned for updates, because if Jacob locks this down, the battle of Which Tall, Handsome Actor Wore It Better? Apocalypse Edition will officially be on.
