Christopher Nolan recently joined Denis Villeneuve to discuss ‘Dune: Part Two’ after a screening at a For Your Consideration Event. He shared love for the sequel during the chat but also revealed an ‘issue.’
“I watched the second half and I think it’s a miraculous job of adaptation, of taking that second half and making an incredible conclusion of the story,” Nolan said, adding, “I have a lot of questions about how you did that, starting with: Usul, Muad’Dib, Paul, Lisan al Gaib. How many f*cking names can you give one character and expect us to keep up with it?”
“There is a serious question behind that,” he continued. “Most adaptations, it’s a process of condensing things and simplifying things. My feeling in watching both films, in particular the second film, is that this was an act of exploring a little further and burrowing into the complications and embracing those and the world building beyond even what’s in the book.”
Other filmmakers have also praised ‘Dune: Part Two,’ with Steven Spielberg calling it “one of the most brilliant science-fiction films I’ve ever seen.” The director then named Villeneuve a significant filmmaker in the industry.
“Let me start by saying there are filmmakers who are the builders of worlds,” Spielberg told the ‘Dune’ director during a Q&A at the time. “It’s not a long list and we know who a lot of them are. Starting with [Georges] Méliès and Disney and Kubrick, George Lucas. Ray Harryhausen I include in that list. Fellini built his own worlds. Tim Burton. Obviously Wes Anderson, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Guillermo del Toro.”
“The list goes on but it’s not that long of a list, and I deeply, fervently believe that you are one of its newest members…And that scene surfing the sandworms is one of the greatest things I have ever seen. Ever!”
Currently, there is a campaign to nominate Villeneuve for Best Director at the Oscars, especially since he was overlooked for his work on the first ‘Dune’ movie. Josh Brolin is a strong supporter in the campaign, saying he’ll quit acting if the director does not receive a nomination this time.
