This week, Sophie and Rudi discuss “The Dog Stars,” director Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel of the same name. Set in a post-apocalyptic future ravaged by a flu pandemic that wiped out most of humanity, the film stars Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce as survivors navigating this bleak reality.

Before getting into the film, Sophie and Rudi discuss two modern slasher films they each recently watched: 2022’s “Influencer,” directed by Kurtis David Harder, and Jane Schoenbrun’s new movie “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” which stars Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson (00:01:43).

Then they talk about “The Dog Stars” (00:05:03), starting with background on the book and its author Heller (00:06:31) before discussing the film’s development (00:09:30) and taking a look back at the 88-year-old Scott’s prolific output since his 2015 adaptation of Andy Weir’s “The Martian.”

From there, Sophie and Rudi get into the film’s plot (00:14:56), which centers on Elordi’s grief-stricken former mechanic Hig, and why they found the movie to be an unsuccessful and at times baffling adaptation. As they discuss the plot, Sophie details some of the major differences and inventions of screenwriter Mark L. Smith, including what’s different with the dog Jasper (00:19:38), the action set-pieces (00:26:04) and the wild third-act detour to Grand Junction (00:39:58). They also discuss why Elordi and Qualley — two of Hollywood’s biggest young stars — were miscast as Hig and Cima (00:45:56).

Finally, Sophie reveals her Sophie’s Choice pick for which she liked better: reading “The Dog Stars" or watching the movie (01:02:08).

Next week: it was an article first. We’re discussing “Coyote vs. Acme,” a hybrid live action and cartoon Looney Tunes revival that’s based on Ian Frazier’s 1990 New Yorker humor piece of the same name and stars Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor.

It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays.

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Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg

Editing: Rudi Greenberg

Social media: Sophie Vershbow

Music: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin Pons

Logo: Trisha Louise Prieto

Website: Kevin Pfab