Ridley Scott‘s thriller feature The Dog Stars may have found the star to replace Paul Mescal: Priscilla and Euphoria‘s Jacob Elordi. The actor is reportedly in early negotiations to replace Mescal, who had previously been set to star in the 20th Century Studios film, an adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 apocalyptic novel written by Mark L. Smith and Christopher Wilkinson.

Set in Colorado after the world’s population has been ravaged by a pandemic, The Dog Stars centres on a civilian pilot living on an abandoned airbase with his dog and an ex-Marine he has befriended. When a mysterious transmission comes through on the radio while he is flying his 1956 Cessna, it sparks a hunt for the provenance of the sound in hopes of a better life.

Mescal, who would have been reteaming with Ridley Scott after working together on Gladiator II, reportedly had to drop out of the pic due to being busy with Sam Mendes’ four-film Beatles project. Though unconfirmed, Mescal will reportedly be playing Paul McCartney.

Jacob Elordi is also busy, set to star in the Prime Video series The Narrow Road to the Deep North, and in the upcoming features Wuthering Heights and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.