Jacob Elordi's Big Year: From Saltburn's Mystery to New Roles with Ridley Scott and Guillermo del Toro

Jacob Elordi has certainly been busy. It feels like he is everywhere these days, going from one interesting role to the next. After his work in films like Saltburn and Priscilla, he is now set to star in some big projects. He will appear in Ridley Scott's upcoming film, The Dog Stars, and is also taking on a part in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. It is clear that Elordi is becoming a major name in Hollywood. He is showing everyone he can take on many different kinds of characters.

The Dog Stars has been in the works for a while but it is finally getting a release in 2026. The movie tells the story of a pilot who travels through a world after a deadly virus wipes out most of humanity. It is based on Peter Heller's well-known science fiction book. Elordi stepped into the main role after Paul Mescal left the project last year. This sounds like a gritty, different kind of story for him to be a part of.

How Ridley Scott Saw Jacob Elordi's Talent In Saltburn And Cast Him For The Dog Stars

A Director's Eye For A Watchable Actor Shapes A New Science Fiction Adventure

Director Ridley Scott explained how he came to cast Elordi. Elordi was not his first choice for the role. But Scott said he was moved to cast him after seeing Elordi's work in Saltburn. That movie came out in 2023. It follows two university students who form an unusual friendship. It looks at ideas of obsession and social class. Scott spoke very highly of Elordi's earlier performance.

Scott said in an interview "Jacob is a great interesting character who I noticed really in Saltburn. I kind of liked the film a lot. I like the whole thing. The whole production was kind of ambitiously intellectual but it got me. I loved the whole thing. So Jake was very watchable and so was the Irish kid [Barry Keoghan]. It was very interesting." This praise from a well-known director speaks volumes. It shows that Elordi's work made a strong mark. It means he was not just chosen because he is popular but because of his skill as an actor.

The fact that Saltburn grabbed Scott's attention means there might be some similar things between Elordi’s role in that movie and his new part in The Dog Stars. Elordi’s work in Saltburn had a mysterious feel. The audience was never quite sure what he was thinking or what his hidden motives were. That was a key part of the story. The film used his character to keep the audience guessing. It is possible that Ridley Scott's new movie will use the actor in a similar way. Elordi will play the character of Hig in The Dog Stars. Hig is the main character who travels through the desolate post-apocalyptic settings with his dog and a close friend. Other actors joining the cast include Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley.

Jacob Elordi's Deep Dive Into The Narrow Road To The Deep North Series

Acting In His Native Accent And The Intense Preparation For A Powerful Role

Before working together on the series The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Jacob Elordi and Justin Kurzel already admired each other's work. Elordi had liked Kurzel's films since he was a teenager. He saw Kurzel’s film Snowtown. Elordi said "Especially in Australia it’s one of the first films that you find when you’re in high school that’s a little different and you have to talk to people about." Kurzel, like many others, had been watching Elordi's rise in shows like Euphoria and films like Priscilla and Saltburn.

Kurzel sent Elordi an email saying he was changing Richard Flanagan’s famous book The Narrow Road to the Deep North for television. He wanted Elordi to play Dorrigo Evans. This character is a soldier whose passionate love with his uncle’s wife helps him stay strong when he is imprisoned in a World War II Japanese labor camp. Elordi said the message was unexpected. He admitted he had thought about asking his agents to contact Kurzel. He wanted to say "I’m a massive fan of your work and I would love to make a film with you one day."

When they met to talk, Kurzel was even more impressed. "He’s a cinephile. We had these great conversations about films about approaching characters and the way we both want to work," Kurzel said. "Jacob is the real deal; he’s incredibly curious about the craft of acting and wants to get the most out of it. Sometimes you can just sort of feel that something’s going to be really special." Elordi agreed that the experience was even better than he expected. He commented "It’s a great example of why you should meet your heroes." Since hitting Amazon Prime in April, Narrow Road has received very good feedback especially for Elordi’s strong portrayal of Evans.

Elordi was drawn to the role for many reasons. One was finally playing a part using his native accent. "That’s something I’ve always wanted to do," he said. "Because that’s how you act at home. And sometimes you can feel like you’re acting on top of acting when you’re telling a different nation’s story." He hopes more people will learn about his country’s contributions during the war thanks to the series. "It’s really important to me that our cinema plays internationally. I’m just really proud to be able to act in something from home that is to me of great substance."

Elordi first filmed the early flashback parts where Dorrigo falls for Amy. The actors had two weeks of practice to build their bond. They had only met once before and were cast without a chemistry test. Then they filmed the POW camp scenes. Elordi lost about 20 pounds in six weeks for these scenes. Kurzel pointed out "It happened over Christmas too!" The actor tried to make light of the physical change. He talked about his mental preparation, calling it "sort of like altitude training." He had about a year to get ready. He said "Month by month I just sort of cut little bits of my normal life off so by the time I got there I was in a space where I could really be in it." He added that Kurzel gave all the actors a "manifesto" for their roles. This was a paper with things to help them create the character. Elordi also learned to tie surgical knots to play a doctor. He admits he has already forgotten this skill. "I love picking things up but then I feel incredibly stupid because as soon as it’s finished everything just goes away. I can’t remember a bloody thing," he said. "But I can do a leg amputation if you like."

Filming the love story first helped Elordi in the camp scenes. He could think about the character’s memories of his time with Amy. This helped him while imprisoned and haunted him in later years. While the camp scenes were hard, Elordi gave credit to Kurzel’s leadership. "Justin had made it really clear to all of us: ‘This is going to be incredibly tough if you want to do it the right way which is how it needs to sort of be done. But I promise you you’ll you’ll remember this forever,’" Elordi said. "And when you have a leader that you trust and believe in as an artist telling you something like that you’re all in." Elordi added "It’s not hard if you really love what you do."

Jacob Elordi Takes On The Monster In Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein

Joining An Impressive Cast For A Classic Story With A New Take

Netflix has given us a small look at Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein. This movie has Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth. The teaser trailer shows a haunting preview of del Toro’s gothic and moody view of the famous story. Oscar Isaac plays Dr. Victor Frankenstein, the scientist. Jacob Elordi plays his tragic creation, the Monster. The brief footage hints at the terrible experiment and what happens to both the creator and his creature. Del Toro has said Frankenstein is a very personal movie for him. He has wanted to make it for over 50 years. He is writing and directing the film. The cast also includes Felix Kammerer, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz. This promises some strong performances.

Frankenstein is set to come out on Netflix in November 2025. A specific date has not been shared yet. This movie is expected to go into the ideas of creation, being left alone, and what it means to be a monster. It will offer a new, visually stunning and loyal look at Mary Shelley’s lasting book. Elordi’s role as the Monster will surely be a challenge. But his recent performances show he is ready for it. It will be interesting to see his take on such a famous character.