(Credits: Jack Davison)
Despite being a die-hard Star Wars fan since his childhood, Dune visionary Denis Villeneuve has ruled out directing a movie for the franchise.
Ever since bursting onto the Hollywood scene with 2013’s Prisoners, Villeneuve has been one of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the business. As his career went from strength to strength, he embraced his love for science-fiction with Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and two Dune movies that many fans consider his magnum opuses.
Throughout his rise, Villeneuve has always been open about how much he loved Star Wars as a kid. During a recent appearance on The Town podcast, he revealed his hot take on the franchise which is that it was ruined by Return of the Jedi.
Villeneuve explained, “I was the target audience. I was 10 years old. It went to my brain like a silver bullet. I became obsessed with Star Wars. I mean, The Empire Strikes Back is the movie that I anticipated the most in my life. I saw the movie a billion times onscreen. I was traumatised by The Empire Strikes Back. I adore Star Wars. The problem is that it all derailed in 1983 with Return of the Jedi.”
The director revealed that he has a very strong memory of seeing the third Star Wars film as a teenager, and it’s not a happy one. He stated, “It’s a long story. I was 15 years old, and my best friend and I wanted to take a cab, and go to LA and talk to George Lucas — we were so angry! Still today, the Ewoks. It turned out to be a comedy for kids.”
Fascinatingly, the thoughtful director reiterated a common critique of the Star Wars franchise in its Disney era, but he contended that the rot actually set in much earlier. He believes that, after Return of the Jedi, Lucas’ creation “became crystalised in its own mythology, very dogmatic. It seemed like a recipe, no more surprises.”
To the disappointment of fans everywhere, Villeneuve admitted, “So, I’m not dreaming to do a Star Wars because it feels like code is very codified.”
Will there be a ‘Dune: Part Three’?
While Villeneuve seemingly has no interest in Star Wars, that’s potentially not a bad thing for fans of his own space opera. After bringing Frank Herbert’s epic novel to the screen in two hugely successful instalments, fans and industry insiders alike have been desperate to know if Villeneuve will return for a third Dune entry. Interestingly, he hasn’t ruled it out entirely but has also been reticent to commit fully.
Earlier in 2024, Villeneuve told the Little Gold Men podcast, “If I do a third one, which is in the writing process, it’s not like a trilogy. It’s strange to say that, but if I go back there, it’s to do something that feels different and has its own identity.”
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