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Director Denis Villeneuve is awaiting the release of his sci-fi follow-upDune: Part Two. The sequel to 2021’sDuneis based on the acclaimed novel franchise by author Frank Herbert. The novels have been adapted twice before, once by filmmaker David Lynch and once by the Sci Fi Channel. Director Alejandro Jodorowsky also attempted to make a film before Lynch.
The second film of the franchise was only greenlit afterDune: Part Onefared well at the box office when it was released mid-pandemic in October 2021. However, Denis Villeneuve stated that he was not yet done with the franchise and that he would retire from it and move on after working on the threequel based on the novelDune Messiah.
Denis Villeneuve Wants to Retire From The Franchise AfterDune Messiah
Director Denis Villeneuve has been widely regarded as a modern-day auteur due to his distinctive style of filmmaking. Though he has tackled big-screen blockbusters, Villeneuve has often been categorized with artistic mainstream filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan. The franchises that the director chooses to work on also seem to not conform to the trends of Hollywood.
After directing harrowing indies in his native country of Canada, Denis Villeneuve gained notoriety with his filmsPrisoners, Enemy,andSicario. The director then tackled his first sci-fi film with the Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner starrerArrival. The film fetched him his first nomination for Best Director at the Oscars. He then made the sequelBlade Runner 2049.
Villeneuve then moved on to his dream project,Dune,and has been working on the two films for the past six years. The director reportedly fell in love with the books when he was fourteen years old and made sure that he adapted the novels to his sensibilities. AfterDune: Part Twoand the yet-to-be-greenlitDune Messiah, however, the director reportedly wanted to depart from the franchise. He said in an interview withTimeMagazine,
“Dune Messiahshould be the last Dune movie for me.”
The director has reportedly signed on to direct another sci-fi film, adapting author Arthur C Clarke’s novelRendezvous with Rama.Arthur C Clarke was the author of2001: A Space Odyssey, which was adapted by Stanley Kubrick. Villeneuve was also reportedly working on an adaptation of Stacey Cliff’s biographical novelCleopatra: A Life.
Denis Villeneuve’s Commitment To The Big Screen Experience
DirectorDenis Villeneuvehas made a brand out of his way of filmmaking by committing to the big screen experience. He came out in support of the theatrical experience when Warner Bros. Studio decided to release their slate of films in cinemas as well as streaming on the same day. The slate of films also includedDune: Part One.
Villeneuve has also made it a point to not conform to general trends in Hollywood. Though the filmmaker has tackled big-scale franchises, he has made sure to not let go of his own style and vision in the midst of increasing cinematic universes with a singular vision. He told Time Magazine about the film industry’s current state,
“We behave like algorithms, as filmmakers. We’re in a very conservative time; creativity is restricted. Everything’s about Wall Street. What will save cinema is freedom and taking risks. And you feel the audience is excited when they see something they haven’t seen before.”
One of the ways in which Denis Villeneuve set himself apart from other franchise filmmakers was through the extreme care he took with his visual effects. The effects in his films look more real and practical than usual blockbusters and have also won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects twice, forBlade Runner 2049andDune. He also takes care of not just the large moments but also the little ones, such as the mouse inDune. He said,
“I don’t want to break the magic but it’s a mouse that doesn’t exist…It’s like an act of hope, the ultimate way of dreaming.”
Dune: Part Twowill be released on June 19, 2025, and will star Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and more.Dune: Part Oneis streaming on Max.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
