The Colorado Author Behind Ridley Scott’s Biggest New Adventure

Summer wildfires were more than a little distracting for the Western Slope this year. It’s understandable if you missed the film that tied Western Colorado to the box office this year.

Ridley Scott’s film adaptation of Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars was released in August 2026. If you missed it over the summer, Western Colorado will host 3 October screenings, including a chance to meet Peter Heller’s himself.

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A Ridley Scott Movie Is Bringing a Bestselling Author to Paonia

This Hollywood Movie Has a Western Colorado Connection

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Ridley Scott directed the adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley. At the end of the week, The Paradise Theatre in Paonia, Colorado, will host screenings October 23–25, with Heller attending the October 23 screening for a post-film talk-back. Saturday and Sunday matinees are scheduled for 2 p.m., with signed-book giveaways. Heller has lived in Delta County, and the Paonia screening gives him a chance to discuss and react to the film with his community.

What The Dog Stars Is About and Why the Story Stands Out

The Dog Stars is a post-apocalyptic survival story that blends themes of grief, friendship, and hope. Vintage published a movie-tie-in paperback edition on August 4, 2026. The novel follows Hig, the pilot of a 1956 Cessna 182 Skylane, who survives a devastating pandemic with his dog, Jasper, and their survivalist neighbor, Bangley. The story unfolds between Erie and Grand Junction.

Peter Heller's Connection to Paonia Makes This a Local Story

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A 2014 profile on Heller appeared in the Houston Chronicle, explaining that the author has lived in both Delta County and the city of Denver over the years. His ties to Paonia make the upcoming screenings in Western Colorado far more personal than they could be in a setting like Los Angeles.

Heller’s book was released in 2012 and is published in 22 languages. The novel’s protagonist is based at an abandoned airport in Erie, Colorado, with part of the story unfolding between the North Fork Valley and Grand Junction. If you are interested in attending a screening in Paonia, you can find information here.