In a rare moment of directorial admiration, ‘Oppenheimer‘ director Christopher Nolan recently sang high praises for the work that Denis Villeneuve has put into his ‘Dune: Part Two‘, which he described as a “miraculous job of adaptation.”
Speaking during a panel at the recent Directors Guild of America, Nolan praised the way in which Villeneuve brings to life Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi epic in the second half of his two-part feature film series. Here’s what he said.
Christopher Nolan Sings Praises For Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ Sequel
Christopher Nolan, a two-time Oscar winner himself, drew parallels between Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune‘ sequel and ‘The Empire Strikes Back‘, often regarded as the pinnacle of the ‘Star Wars‘ franchise.
“If, to me, ‘Dune’ was like ‘Star Wars’, then ‘Dune: Part Two’ is ‘The Empire Strikes Back’, which is my favorite ‘Star Wars’ film,” Nolan said, emphasizing the film’s deepening of the story and expansion of the universe first introduced in ‘Dune‘ (2021).
The director of ‘Oppenheimer‘ was particularly struck by the immersive nature of Villeneuve’s vision. “What I was really struck by is the sense of immersion in that world,” he said, praising the unique and awe-inspiring visuals that populate the sequel. “It’s a film that has so many unique images, so many things you’ve never seen before,” he added.
‘Dune’ Universe Is Further Set To Expand With A Prequel ‘Dune: Prophecy’
‘Dune: Part Two’ continues in the footsteps of Denis Villeneuve’s initial adaptation of this sprawling sci-fi novel that won six Oscars and drew massive critical acclaim. Combining both ‘Dune‘ and ‘Dune: Part Two‘, Villeneuve’s adaptation stands as a modern sci-fi triumph that has grossed more than $1.12 billion worldwide.
Innovated by David Lynch’s adaptation in 1984, Villeneuve remains very keen on Herbert’s expansive universe. The director has asserted that the third installment in the ‘Dune‘ saga, which is directed from Herbert’s 1969 novel ‘Dune Messiah‘, will start rolling in late 2025 or 2026.
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While this is going on, the franchise keeps expanding on the prequel series of ‘Dune: Prophecy‘, which premiered not too long ago on HBO and Max, adding multiple layers to the vast expanse of ‘Dune‘ mythology.
To science fiction fans and lovers of great storytelling, the good news is that Villeneuve’s universe promises so much more groundbreaking cinema for now.
