**Josh Brolin Reflects on Overcoming Fears in Ridley Scott’s Latest Film ‘The Dog Stars’**
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In a candid conversation, Josh Brolin opened up about his experiences while filming the post-apocalyptic film ‘The Dog Stars’, directed by the renowned Ridley Scott. Brolin, who has a history of acclaimed performances, revealed that he encountered significant anxiety during the early stages of shooting. This was largely due to Scott’s unconventional approach to directing, which left Brolin feeling somewhat unmoored.
The actor, known for roles in films such as ‘American Gangster’ and ‘Dune’, described how the absence of rehearsals left him feeling unsettled. “Ridley was talking a lot of stories and not really rehearsing, and it bugged me out, and I got really scared,” he recounted in an interview with Empire. Overwhelmed by the unstructured environment, Brolin even reached out to his agent, expressing a desire to withdraw from the project entirely. His message was clear: “I want out. Something’s really wrong, and I’ve got to get the f— out of here.”
Despite the initial panic, two key factors ultimately prevented him from quitting. Firstly, his agent, who is also a close friend and trusted adviser, calmly suggested that Brolin take a day off to gather his thoughts. “I was like, ‘No, man, I know what the f— you’re doing,’” he recalled, recognising that walking away might not be the solution.
The turning point for Brolin came after a pivotal conversation with Scott himself. The legendary director invited Brolin into his trailer and screened footage of a scene they had just completed. This moment proved transformative for the actor. “It was a really good, very dynamic scene between me and Jacob,” said Brolin, referring to his co-star, Jacob Elordi. After witnessing the scene, he felt reinvigorated and began to engage more fully with Scott’s unique directing style.
Brolin’s previous collaboration with Scott on ‘American Gangster’ had not prepared him for the director’s new, brisk multi-camera technique, which initially felt disconcerting. “It took about a day or two for me to really embrace that, and then I got super into it because it was stratospherically creative and stratospherically dangerous,” Brolin explained. The fear that had initially troubled him gradually transformed into a passion for the project, aligning with his desire for challenging roles.
As a result, Brolin found that his experience on ‘The Dog Stars’ evolved into one of the more rewarding projects he has been a part of. “Ultimately, it became one of the more creative, satisfying projects that I’ve ever been involved with,” he shared, reflecting on how pushing through his fears enriched the overall experience.
Adapted by Mark L. Smith from Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, ‘The Dog Stars’ features a promising ensemble cast alongside Brolin, including Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce, Benedict Wong, and Allison Janney. The narrative centres on Elordi’s character, Hig, a civilian pilot stranded in a harsh post-apocalyptic world. Motivated by a mysterious radio transmission, Hig embarks on a daring journey in search of the hope and humanity he believes still exists.
Following ‘The Dog Stars’, Brolin has a busy slate of upcoming projects, including ‘Whalefall’, set to be released on 16 October, and a reprisal of his popular role as Gurney Halleck in ‘Dune: Part Three’, due to hit theatres in December. As anticipation builds for ‘The Dog Stars’, which is slated for release on 28 August, it seems clear that Brolin’s journey through fear and uncertainty has only deepened his craft as an actor, ready to tackle new challenges ahead.