Key Takeaways
- Villeneuve won’t direct Star Wars due to restrictions from its legacy and expectations.
- He feels Star Wars lost its magic in 1983 post-Return of the Jedi.
- Villeneuve prefers Dune’s creative freedom for profound storytelling.
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has taken the world by storm with his movies, but recently, the director stunned everyone by saying that he has no plans to direct or write a Star Wars movie, despite his love for sci-fi.
Villeneuve has been a force to be reckoned with since he began his filmmaking career in 1998. The Canadian filmmaker received critical acclaim for his films such as Incendies, Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, and more. However, in 2021, he received universal recognition for his movie Dune, which masterfully adapted Frank Herbert’s epic novel, earning widespread praise for its epic storytelling. He continued his golden run with Dune: Part Two, which is poised to win several accolades during this year’s awards season. On several occasions, the director has said that Star Wars played a significant role in shaping his love for the movies. Although Star Wars holds a special place in his heart, the director has made it clear that he won’t direct Star Wars for a very personal reason.
RELATED
Dune: Messiah Gets A Disappointing Update From Josh Brolin
Josh Brolin talked about his role in Dune: Messiah and when he’ll work on it, and the conversation doesn’t bode all that well.
While making an appearance on The Town podcast, the Blade Runner 2049 helmer didn’t shy away from saying how much he adored the sci-fi franchise when it came out. However, he admitted that, in his perspective, the franchise started losing some of its magic in 1983. During the conversation, Villeneuve noted that he loved The Empire Strikes Back when it was released, but things “derailed” with The Return of the Jedi. “I mean, The Empire Strikes Back is the movie that I anticipated the most in my life. I saw the movie a billion times on screen, I was traumatized by The Empire Strikes Back. I adore Star Wars, the problem is that it all derailed in 1983 with Return of the Jedi… I was 15 years old, my best friend and I wanted to take a cab, go to LA and talk to George Lucas.” On the other hand, he didn’t shy away from saying how he and his friends got angry with the makers after watching some of the Star Wars projects. He added, “We were so angry. Still today, the Ewoks… it turned out to be a comedy for kids.”
As a result, Villeneuve decided not to tackle any Star Wars projects in his career and seemingly told fans that he wouldn’t be making a Star Wars movie in the future. “So I’m not dreaming to do a Star Wars, the code is very codified,” Villeneuve said. It is worth noting that this isn’t the first time the filmmaker has said something similar for the franchise that is loved by millions of fans. In an interview with The Playlist in October 2021, the filmmaker stated that the series took a direction he never expected it to go. Although Star Wars is one of the biggest franchises of all time, even some of its ardent fans have occasionally criticized its titles for lacking seriousness. Villeneuve is no stranger to franchises with deep lore, having skillfully navigated the complexities of Blade Runner 2049 and Dune. However, he has expressed that he finds Star Wars far more restrictive compared to Dune. For Villeneuve, the Dune universe offers a vast playground for creativity, allowing him to explore profound themes and intricate storytelling. In contrast, he feels Star Wars is bound by its legacy and predefined expectations, limiting the freedom for filmmakers to truly innovate.
That’s one of the main reasons why the celebrated filmmaker has chosen to steer clear of the Star Wars series despite his love for the franchise and science fiction. He has always been inclined towards stories that will allow him to tell bold and expansive storytelling because that aligns with his artistic vision and passion for exploring complex, thought-provoking narratives. But it won’t come as a shock if Villeneuve decides to join the galaxy far, far away in the future. As of now, he is busy completing the Dune trilogy.
Both Dune movies are available to stream on MAX.
MORE
Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars Trilogy Could Be Just What The Franchise Needs…If It Avoids One Thing
This is why Simon Kinberg might just be the perfect person to take the reins of a fresh Star Wars trilogy—provided Disney lets the past die.
Source: The Town