Denis Villeneuve, known for directing the Dune films, has made it clear he has no plans to venture into the Star Wars universe. The acclaimed filmmaker shared his thoughts during a recent episode of The Town podcast, explaining why a galaxy far, far away doesn’t align with his creative aspirations. Villeneuve, who has drawn comparisons between his Dune adaptations and the Star Wars saga, highlighted his reasons for steering clear of the iconic franchise.
Villeneuve’s personal history with Star Wars dates back to his childhood. He fondly recalled watching A New Hope as a 10-year-old, describing it as a transformative experience: “It went to my brain like a silver bullet. I became obsessed with Star Wars.” The obsession carried over to The Empire Strikes Back, which he admitted to watching “a billion times onscreen.”
However, his love for the series began to sour with Return of the Jedi. “The problem is that it all derailed in 1983 with Return of the Jedi,” he said. “It’s a long story. I was 15 years old, and my best friend and I wanted to take a cab and go to L.A. and talk to George Lucas — we were so angry! Still today, the Ewoks,” Villeneuve lamented. “It turned out to be a comedy for kids.”
The filmmaker explained that his issues with Star Wars go beyond the Ewoks. He believes the franchise has become overly codified, leaving little room for creativity or surprise. “Star Wars became crystallized in its own mythology, very dogmatic,” he said. “It seemed like a recipe, no more surprises. So I’m not dreaming to do a Star Wars because it feels like code is very codified.” This rigid structure contrasts with the creative freedom he enjoys while exploring the sands of Arrakis in his Dune adaptations.
Villeneuve’s reluctance to tackle Star Wars extends to other major franchises. When asked about directing a Star Trek movie, he responded, “I’m not a Trekkie.” While his sci-fi projects, including Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival, reflect his admiration for speculative storytelling, he prefers to carve his own path rather than adhere to the established frameworks of iconic franchises.
Despite Villeneuve’s criticisms, Star Wars remains a commercial juggernaut. Under Disney’s stewardship, the franchise has thrived financially with new films and series, including the highly profitable sequel trilogy that began with The Force Awakens. However, Villeneuve’s comments resonate with critiques that Star Wars has leaned heavily on nostalgia and familiar tropes, prioritising box office success over innovation.
Meanwhile, Villeneuve continues to find success with his Dune series. Dune: Part Two grossed US$714 million globally this year, cementing the franchise’s status as a blockbuster hit. Warner Bros. has already begun developing Dune: Messiah, with Villeneuve expected to return to direct.
Denis Villeneuve’s decision to focus on Dune rather than Star Wars reflects his commitment to creative freedom and his desire to push boundaries in science fiction storytelling. Fans of his work can look forward to the continuation of Paul Atreides’ journey, even as the filmmaker resists the allure of one of Hollywood’s most enduring franchises.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.
