Ridley Scott has spent decades making Hollywood look a little more spectacular, sinister, and wonderfully unhinged. From the claustrophobic horror of Alien and the neon-soaked dystopia of Blade Runner to the sweeping grandeur of Gladiator, the legendary filmmaker has repeatedly reshaped genres with his striking visual style and meticulous “Ridleygrams.” Even his famously speedy shoots have become part of his filmmaking legend.

Now, as Scott ventures into the post-apocalyptic world of The Dog Stars, Jacob Elordi seems to have made bringing that vision to life considerably easier with his commitment to the role.

Ridley Scott has found an unusually hands-on star for The Dog Stars. Speaking to PEOPLE, Scott revealed how Jacob Elordi brought more than acting chops to the post-apocalyptic drama, readily tackling planes, deserted towns, tractors, and a demanding canine co-star. The 29-year-old actor apparently had little interest in waiting around for someone else to show him how.

“He got onto that lawnmower tractor, just started the engine, started working it. Nobody told him how,” the filmmaker reclled. That, in fact, happened to be Scott’s immediate impression of Elordi, whom the director describes as “kind of a farm boy.” The anecdote offers a rather charming preview of just how naturally Elordi slipped into the rugged world of the film.

And the animals were hardly decorative scenery. Scott revealed to PEOPLE that three dogs played Jasper, with each handling a different requirement, including attacking, playing, and sitting inside the cockpit. Elordi apparently managed all three with ease, earning praise for his command of the animals and his tenderness toward the dog at the heart of Hig’s grief.

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Whether Jacob Elordi is praising Ridley Scott or Ridley Scott is praising Jacob Elordi, the mutual admiration is hard to miss, placing the actor among the select few to earn the legendary filmmaker’s praise.

Ridley Scott is hardly Hollywood’s most enthusiastic dispenser of compliments, so when the filmmaker starts praising an actor, ears tend to perk up. Michael Fassbender received the "ultimate bouquet" when Scott called him “probably the best” he had worked with after they filmed Alien: Covenant. Denzel Washington has also drawn lavish praise, with Scott placing the Oscar winner “at the peak of his powers.”

Then there is Sean Bean, one of Scott’s favorite character actors, while Russell Crowe turned professional friction into five collaborations, including Gladiator. Nicolas Cage, meanwhile, won Scott over with his wonderfully complicated Matchstick Men performance. It is quite the distinguished little club, and now Jacob Elordi has earned his invitation after impressing Scott with his hands-on commitment to The Dog Stars.

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After Ridley Scott's praise, are you looking forward to The Dog Stars even more? Let us know in the comments!