Denis Villeneuve, director of Duneexpressed his disinterest in the saga Star Warswhich went astray well before the Disney takeover according to him.
Denis Villeneuve's filmography is a bit like a cave of wonders, where we meander between intimate stories (Fires), thrillers as tense as possible (Prisoners, Enemy) and sci-fi blockbusters (Blade Runner 2049). With Dunehe joined the sphere of those capable of adapting the unadaptable (hello Peter Jackson), by bringing to the screen the dense universe of Frank Herbert. A universe which now extends to the small screen with the series Dune Prophecywho has difficulty convincing.
If the films Dune de Villeneuve did not please Quentin Tarantino, they nevertheless rose to the pantheon of great popular science fiction works, in the same way as Star Trek, Alien or Star Wars. Denis Villeneuve recently spoke to give his opinion on the George Lucas saga. And the least we can say is that the director of Dune has not been kind to the Skywalker saga.
Fan of the 80s, but a taboo fan on purpose
In the podcast episode The Town posted online on November 27, 2024, Denis Villeneuve was questioned about certain rumors which suggest that he would be ready to do anything to direct a film Star Wars.
The director confided his feelings about the saga Star Wars, with whom he seems to have a very ambivalent relationship. He first wanted to clarify that he was a fan of the George Lucas franchise, and that the saga of Luke Skywalker occupied an important place in his life as a movie buff.
“I was the target audience. I was 10 years old [en 1977, à la sortie de La Guerre des Etoiles – NDLR]. The film entered my brain like a silver bullet. I became obsessed with Star Wars. The Empire Strikes Back is the movie I've waited for the most in my life. I've seen it a billion times on screen. The Empire Strikes Back traumatized me. I love Star Wars. »
Dreams, Dune, Summer nights
But then the filmmaker declared that in his eyes, only Star Wars et The Empire Strikes Back carried within them a certain sacred fire. Of the Return of the Jedithe saga would have gone astray by adopting a tone too oriented towards comedy :
“The problem is that everything went off the rails in 1983 with Return of the Jedi. It's a long story. 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, Ewoks… It turned out to be a children's comedy.
Star Wars has crystallized into its own mythology, very dogmatic, it looks like a recipe, there are no more surprises. So I don't dream of making a Star Wars movie because I have the impression that the code is very codified. »
Through his words, Denis Villeneuve illustrates a discomfort shared by many fans: the impression that'a certain magic, specific to the first films, has been replaced by a commercial logic. The franchise Star Wars now seems more focused on mass content production rather than narrative innovation (perhaps even more so since the Disney takeover). And when innovation arrives, it is often killed by the very people who call themselves fans from the start. A thought for The Acolytesmall series gone too soon.
Although the license Star Wars seems trapped in an infernal cycle where it can only infinitely recycle its own ideas and codes, the saga will continue to extend its narrative ramifications on the big and small screen. Season 2 ofAndor will arrive in 2025, and that the expected series at the turn Star Wars : Skeleton Crew is scheduled to arrive on Disney+ on the night of December 2 to 3. As for the Mandalorianwe will find it in cinemas with The Mandalorian & Grogu in 2026.
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