Christopher Nolan Tells Denis Villeneuve That ‘Dune 2’ Is ‘Miraculous’ and Jokes: ‘Muad’Dib, Paul, Lisan al Gaib. How Many F—ing Names Can You Give One Character?’
Christopher Nolan recently moderated an FYC conversation with Denis Villeneuve after a screening of “Dune: Part Two” and raved about his love for the sequel, calling it “a miraculous job of adaptation.” The “Oppenheimer” Oscar winner joins the likes of Steven Spielberg and other top directors in praising “Dune: Part Two,” which is one of Warner Bros.’ top Oscar contenders this season.
“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. “I have a lot of questions about how you did that, starting with: Usul, Muad’Dib, Paul, Lisan al Gaib. How many fucking names can you give one character and expect us to keep up with it?”
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“There is a serious question behind that,” Nolan 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.”
During his own Q&A with Villeneuve at the Directors Guild of America in March shortly after “Dune: Part Two’s” theatrical release, Spielberg called the sequel “one of the most brilliant science-fiction films I’ve ever seen.”
“Let me start by saying there are filmmakers who are the builders of worlds,” Spielberg told Villeneuve 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!”
Villeneuve is being campaigned for best director after the Oscars infamously snubbed him for his work on the first “Dune” movie. Cast member Josh Brolin recently told Variety that he won’t be happy if the Academy snubs Villeneuve again.
“If he doesn’t get nominated this year, I’ll quit acting,” Brolin said. “It was a better movie than the first one. When I watched it, it felt like my brain was broken open. It’s masterful, and Denis is one of our master filmmakers. If the Academy Awards have any meaning whatsoever, they’ll recognize him.”
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