Denis Villeneuve has often cited “Star Wars” when discussing his favorite movies as a kid, but that doesn’t mean he’d be interested in collaborating with Lucasfilm to produce a film set in a galaxy far, far away. During an interview on “The Town” podcast, the “Dune” director said that directing a “Star Wars” movie is not a dream for him because “Return of the Jedi” derailed the franchise in 1983.
“I was the target audience. I was 10 years old. It shot into my brain like a silver bullet. I became obsessed with Star Wars,” Villeneuve said of George Lucas’s original. “I mean The Empire Strikes Back is the movie I anticipated the most in my life. I’ve watched the movie a billion times on screen. I was shocked by The Empire Strikes Back. “I love Star Wars.”
He continued: “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 get in a taxi and go to Los Angeles and talk to George Lucas – we were so angry! Still today, Ewoks. “It’s become a children’s comedy.”
Villeneuve said that after “Return of the Jedi,” the “Star Wars” franchise took shape in its own mythology, became very dogmatic, seemed like a recipe, and there were no more surprises. So I wouldn’t dream of doing a Star Wars movie because it seems like the code is so codified.
“Star Wars” is out of the question for Villeneuve, as is the case with the other popular space franchise. “I’m not a Trekkie,” the director said when asked about being involved in a “Star Trek” movie.
Fortunately, many may already consider Villeneuve an icon of the space genre without having to touch “Star Wars” or “Star Trek.” This is due to the director’s highly acclaimed film “Dune” in recent years. He is currently developing the third Dune film based on Frank Herbert’s second Dune novel, Dune.
“If I do a third part, which is being written, it won’t be like a trilogy,” the director told Vanity Fair’s “Little Gold Men” podcast earlier this year. “It’s strange to say that, but if I go back there, it means doing something that feels different and has its own identity.”
“Dune Messiah” takes place 12 years after the events of the first “Dune” novel, so the film adaptation will likely age Villeneuve’s young cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh and others. “I know how to do it,” the director said when asked how he plans to bulk up the cast but did not share details of his plan.
Listen to Villeneuve’s full interview on “The Town” podcast here.