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Why won't Denis Villeneuve direct Star Wars films?

Denis Villeneuve is very busy with the development of a new opus of his saga Dune. After two parts crowned with critical and commercial success, the director intends to continue the adventures of Paul Atréides by adapting Messiah for the big screen. The filmmaker must also tackle another work of science fiction, Rendezvous with Rama written by Arthur C. Clarke. In just a few years, he established himself as a reference of science fiction in cinema in recent yearshelped by the praise addressed to his Blade Runner 2049 et Premier Contact. While the very distant galaxy seems to be in turmoil, it has now been five years since it last appeared on the big screen, many see in Villeneuve the architect capable of bringing about a new era for the universe imagined by George Lucas in the late 70s. Podcast guest The Town with Matthew BelloniVilleneuve confided that he had no desire to take up the torch. He explains:

“I was the target audience (when the first film was released). I was 10 years old. It went to my head. I became obsessed with Star Wars. I mean, The Empire Strikes Back is the movie I've been looking forward to the most in my life. I've seen it a billion times in the cinema. I was traumatized by The Empire Strikes Back. I love Star Wars. The problem is that everything went off the rails in 1983 with Return of the Jedi. I was 15 and my best friend and I wanted to take a taxi to Los Angeles and talk to George Lucas. We were so angry! Even today… The Ewoks! It turned out to be a comedy for children. Star Wars crystallized into its own mythology, very dogmatic, it looked like a recipe. There were no more surprises. So I don't dream of making a Star Wars movie because I have the impression that it's very codified”.

Difficult to prove him wrong, as the franchise multiplies projects and appears rush into the twists and turns of a galaxy become far too dense for its own good, which only manages to surprise on very rare occasions. Uncertainty about timing Star Wars at the cinema, a film has just disappeared from the program and a new trilogy is in development, confirms that Lucasfilm no longer knows where to turn next L’Ascension de Skywalker.

Three films in a saga are enough

Asked about the licenses he would dream of seizing, Villeneuve explains that his work on Dune is enough for his happiness. “Honestly, in a lifetime, when you have the chance to make three films in the same universe, it's enough. After that, I think I'm going to go back to original stories or novels that I love”. Besides Rendezvous with RamaDenis Villeneuve will work on a film dedicated to Cleopatra with Zendaya in the lead role. Announced a while ago now, the film has not been talked about again. Dune 3which will not really be a continuation of the first two parts, is currently being written. The production launch date remains a mystery. In April 2024, Legendary Pictures gave the green light to the director who was already working, alongside Jon Spaihts, on developing the outline of the project.

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