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Inspiration is an integral aspect of the creative world; every work of fiction is somewhere a culmination of the creator’s imagination and influences. Sometimes, the influences become so apparent that it’s hard to tell the difference between being inspired by something and outright copying it. The similarities between Dennis Villeneuve’s Dune and Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan leave fans in a similar conundrum.

Eren descends on a morally gray path in Attack on Titan | Credits: Studio Mappa

Frank Herbert’s Dune series is the pioneer of science fiction, and most fictional works that fall under the genre have been inspired by it in some way or the other. Dune was first published in 1965, and Villeneuve’s film, released in 2021, has once again directed fans’ attention to the highly influential series.

The evident similarities between Dune and Attack on Titan

The first part of Dune is mostly...

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is a story that adapted Frank Herbert’s seminal novel, which looked into feuding families with intricate lineages and secret heritages. Paul Atreides, the Duke of Arrakis, draws his own lineage from the Atreides family through his father, and also from the Harkonnens, through his mother. However, one theory suggests that his family tree might be further convoluted, and even have a branch that directly leads to Chani.

Credits: Timothée Chalamet in Dune / Warner Bros.

Dune: Prophecy has been unraveling the history of the world of Dune, alluding to the various clans and prophecies that will come into play 10,000 years in the show’s future. This includes the everlasting feud between the Harkonnens and the Atreides, while also adding the Fremen into the mix, possibly hinting at a shared heritage between Chani and Paul.

Mikaela and Kieran Atreides could be Paul and Chani’s common...

Between Luca Guadagnino’s tennis-centric love triangle “Challengers” and playing Chani opposite Timothée Chalamet’s Paul in Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two,” Zendaya owned 2024. Just ask Nicole Kidman, who makes a point of telling the 28-year-old actor that she paid money to see both films in theaters. “One I saw at midnight — I was really jet-lagged — and I was riveted,” Kidman says. “I’m a Dunie!” Zendaya’s current position in Hollywood isn’t unlike that of a young Kidman, who had already worked with Tony Scott, Gus Van Sant and Jane Campion when she was that age. But Kidman, now 57, has learned a lot since then, and as they talk, she delves into her role in the A24 psychosexual drama “Babygirl” while also taking Zendaya through her playbook for building an imaginative and risky — but emotionally regulated — career. First, though, Kidman is dying to hear how the “Dune...

“We consider this adaptation is more faithful to Frank Herbert than to the book,” said Dune: Part 2 director and co-writer Denis Villeneuve during a THR’s Frontrunners panel at the San Vicente Bungalows.

Dune: Part Two picks up where the first Dune film left off, as Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) wrestles with how to avenge his father and family line, lead the Fremen in a war against the Harkonnen, and ensure the fate of the universe. All the while he is battling the conception that he is the Lisan Al-Ghaib, or the supposed savior of Arrakis and the Fremen peoples.

“The book has been unpacked in the press and in Herbert’s remarks about the books, but also in his subsequent work,” explains Jon Spaihts of how Dune had been interpreted over the years. “In Dune Messiah, [Herbert] put his own seminal work under the lens because he intended Dune...

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures’ Dune: Part Two, the anticipated follow-up to 2021’s six-time Oscar-winning Dune. Denis Villeneuve directed from a screenplay he and Jon Spaihts wrote based on Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel.

The first film’s writing team of Spaihts, Villeneuve and Eric Roth were nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar, making expectations high for sequel, which has delivered, grossing $714 million worldwide since its global release in March.

Set thousands of years in the future and picking up where Dune left off, Dune: Part Two again follows the mythic journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young man propelled by fate into an intergalactic power struggle. Paul was given the ultimate test after the murder of his father, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), in Dune: to conquer his fears when...

Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve recently shared a positive update on Warner Bros.' plans for a third movie, confirming that the script for an adaptation of Dune: Messiah is officially in the works.

Villeneuve also confirmed (though it really didn't come as much of a surprise) that Anya Taylor-Joy will return as Alia Atreides following her brief cameo in the last movie.

In Part One, we learn that Paul Atreides' mother, the Bene Gesserit Lady Jessica, is pregnant with the late Duke Leto's child. When the Fremen take in the survivors of the Harkonnen massacre, Jessica agrees to become the tribe's new Reverend Mother (she isn't really given a choice) and is "persuaded" to drink the Water of Life (a blue substance that's been extracted from a juvenile sandworm).

This gives Jessica incredible foresight and knowledge of previous generations, while also awakening similar abilities in her unborn daughter,...

Denis Villeneuve didn’t just bring Dune: Part 2 to life — he dreamed up moments that could’ve blown Frank Herbert’s mind. The kicker? The scene Villeneuve wished Herbert could see wasn’t even about Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides. Instead, it dived deep into the sand-drenched chaos of Dune’s epic world, with visuals so crazy they might’ve left even Herbert speechless.

Denis Villeneuve | Image by Gage Skidmore, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Villeneuve’s love for Herbert’s universe wasn’t just about spotlighting its leading man but celebrating the awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping pieces that make this saga unforgettable. If you thought Dune was just about Chalamet, think again — it’s an all-out cinematic thrill ride.

Zendaya’s Chani, Tears, and Triumph: Denis Villeneuve’s Tribute to Frank Herbert Zendaya as Chani in the Dune films | Credits: Warner Bros

Director Denis Villeneuve revealed the one...

TIMOTHÉE Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Zendaya as Chani in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ ‘Dune: Part Two’ (Photo by Niko Tavernise)

The San Diego Film Critics Society is known for marching to the beat of its own drum. Last year, the So. California group named Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret the Best Picture of 2024. And this year’s nominees break from other critics groups, with Dune: Part Two leading with 12 nominations. Conclave followed with nine, and Sing Sing and Wicked each earned eight.

Winners will be announced on Monday, December 9, 2024.

2024 San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Nominees

Best Picture

Anora

Challengers

Conclave

Dune: Part Two

Sing Sing

Best Director

Brady Corbet – The Brutalist

Coralie Fargeat, The Substance

Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two

Edward Berger, Conclave

Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing

Best Actor

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Daniel Craig, Queer

Ralph Fiennes,...

On December 5, the IndieWire Honors Winter 2024 ceremony will celebrate the creators and stars responsible for crafting some of the year’s best films. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, IndieWire Honors is a celebration of the filmmakers, artisans, and performers behind films well worth toasting. We’re showcasing their work with new interviews leading up to the Los Angeles event.

Ahead, producer Mary Parent tells IndieWire that for Visionary Award honoree Denis Villenueve, writing and directing “Dune: Part Two” is part of a childhood dream realized.

It is no secret by now that bringing “Dune” to the big screen — a book nearly everyone thought was unadaptable — had been a dream of Denis Villeneuve’s pretty much his whole life. Remarkably, he was driven to realize his vision of Dune before he even understood how it could be possible. As a kid from a small town in Quebec, long...

Dune: Prophecy has introduced the mysterious figure of Desmond Hart, a character that seems diametrically opposed to what the Sisterhood is trying to do as they vie for power in the Empire.

Desmond Hart || Credit: Legendary Pictures

Dune: Prophecy takes place about 10,000 years before the events of Dune, where Paul Atreides would realize the prophecy of the Lisan al-Gaib, a plot put into motion by the Bene Gesserit. However, the Bene Gesserit themselves seemed pretty fearful of Paul realizing that power, which could have seeded itself in the order thanks to Desmond Hart.

Desmond Hart could be the Bene Gesserit’s key to consolidating power in Arakkis

Desmond Hart served twelve tours of Arrakis, something that is considered to be a great feat at this point in Dune‘s history. There is also the fact that Deamond Hart seems to have some pretty mysterious powers, something that the Bene Gesserit have not seen before.

Dune and Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve has often mentioned that he is (or was) a huge Star Wars fan, and has even suggested that George Lucas' original trilogy was an early influence on his decision to pursue a career as a filmmaker.

Despite his love for the franchise, Villeneuve has now explained why he has no interest in directing a movie set in the galaxy far, far away.

While chatting to The Town Podcast, Villeneuve said directing a Star Wars movie simply isn't "a dream of his" because "Star Wars became crystallized in its own mythology, very dogmatic, it seemed like a recipe, no more surprises."

He also feels that Return of the Jedi derailed the franchise back in 1983.

“I was the target audience. I was 10 years old. It went to my brain like a silver bullet. I became obsessed with Star Wars. I mean, The Empire Strikes Back...

Disney and Lucasfilm have been attached a lot of filmmakers to various Star Wars projects. Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Kevin Feige, Patty Jenkins, Donald Glover, Taika Waititi, Rian Johnson, Shawn Levy – they’re all either currently working on something that’s set in the Star Wars universe, or have worked on projects that aren’t moving forward. But one filmmaker we shouldn’t expect to see stepping into the Star Wars franchise is Denis Villeneuve, director of Blade Runner 2049 and the recent Dune movies. That’s because Villeneuve feels the series derailed way back in 1983, with the release of Return of the Jedi.

During an interview on The Town podcast, Villeneuve said (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter), “I was the target audience (for the original Star Wars film). I was 10 years old. It went to my brain like a silver bullet. I became obsessed with Star Wars.

When Denis Villeneuve crafted the world of Dune, the filmmaker made sure to carefully chip away at the far-fetched unreality of the sci-fi fantasy and fill it with a sense of sprawling grandeur. The audience was neither exposed to the campiness of David Lynch’s 1984 version nor the suspension of disbelief that usually comes with such a genre.

Dune: Part Two [Credit: Warner Bros.]

Villeneuve’s world was a believable one due to the relics of the current world found in the movies – the extinction of machines, ravaged land deprived of an atmosphere, fascism and segregation, and a holy war in the name of a messiah that leads to the death of billions. But most of the morally and philosophically perplexing themes were rooted in a central love story, adding depth to the chaos that surrounds the two doomed and star-crossed lovers.

With Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, Denis Villeneuve grounded his Dune trilogy.

Despite the first Dune movie picking up a nomination for Best Picture at the 2022 Academy Awards, Denis Villeneuve was not nominated for Best Director. Understandably, this didn't sit very well with a lot of people - including star Josh Brolin.

Brolin, who played loyal Atreides War Master Gurney Halleck in both movies, was very vocal about Villeneuve being overlooked the first time, and is even more adamant that the filmmaker should be recognized by the Academy for his work on recent sequel, Dune: Part Two.

“If he doesn’t get nominated this year, I’ll quit acting,” Brolin tells Variety. “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.”

We're sure Brolin won't actually retire if Villeneuve isn't nominated,...

Josh Brolin, who plays Gurney Halleck in director Denis Villeneuve’s two-part adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel Dune, let it be known that he thought the Academy “blew it” when Villeneuve didn’t receive a Best Director Oscar nomination for his work on the first Dune, and now he has told Variety that he feels so strongly that Villeneuve deserves an Oscar nomination for Dune Part Two, that he will quit acting if the Academy doesn’t show the director some love

Scripted by Villeneuve, Eric Roth, and Jon Spaihts, Dune Part One introduced viewers to Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet), “a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding”, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply...

“One thing that’s probably not talked enough about is Chani. I feel like we — as filmmakers, as an audience — were sort of observing Paul through Chani for most of the time,” observes “Dune: Part Two” cinematographer Greig Fraser about the heroine played by Zendaya and how she shapes much of what we see in the world. Watch our complete video interview with Fraser above.

“Dune: Part Two” continues the story of Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), who survives on the desert planet Arrakis with the help of the Fremen people and fights alongside them in a guerilla war against the Harkonnens who now control the planet. Chani is one of the Fremen, who ultimately falls in love with Paul. “There’s very clear links to her point of view … There’s clear times that she is watching him,” says Fraser, like when she sees Paul triumphantly ride a sand worm.

With Dune: Part Two, director and co-writer Denis Villeneuve is in the homestretch of realizing an ambition he’s had since age 14: to transfer his vision to a movie screen; to capture the survival of the Fremen in the inhospitable deserts of Arrakis amid the spice harvesters and ruthless House Harkonnen; to capture the giant sandworms’ majesty, and to tell the love story between Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and Fremen warrior Chani (Zendaya). With Villeneuve now headed toward an inevitable third installment, Dune: Messiah, he discusses the benefits and difficulties of shooting in the desert heat and his love of Frank Herbert’s work.

Deadline: Watching Timothée Chalamet reminded me of watching Tom Cruise as he grew into manhood. How close has he come to your hopes when he was boyish and you set him for the first film?

Denis Villeneuve: We have to remind ourselves that he had done the work before,...

How do the 2025 Oscars Best Picture contenders stack up on Rotten Tomatoes? And does the film with the highest freshness rating have a better shot at winning the big prize?

While critics’ scores don’t determine the Best Picture lineup (there are thousands of highly-rated movies each year), once the lineup is selected by AMPAS, there are at least a few tea leaves worth noting. For instance, the only film to win Best Picture in the last 10 years with a freshness rating lower than 90% is “Green Book,” which has a Tomatometer score of just 77%.

Last year’s winner, “Oppenheimer,” holds a formidable 93%, but it didn’t rank first among it’s competitors. That distinction went to “The Holdovers,” which has a rating of 97%. So, a movie doesn’t have to have the highest score, but it certainly helps its chances. And falling below 90% would put any movie at an extreme disadvantage,...

Zendaya steps out in a monochrome look for a double feature of her 2024 movies on Saturday night (November 16) in Los Angeles.

The 28-year-old actress attended a Dune: Part Two and Challengers screening for an FYC awards contention event.

In addition to both movies being screened, Zendaya also took to the stage to speak about the projects, and she was also joined by Dune director Denis Villeneuve.

At another event, Denis opened up about the chemistry between Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet.

Keep reading to find out more…

“They met each other in Part One, briefly, and spontaneously they became friends,” he said at the Deadline Contenders Filmevent that same day. “And as we did the promotional tour, their relationship became, let’s say, a deeper meaning – they’re close friends. And for me, it’s tremendous help, of course, because Jon and I had structured the whole story on their relationship...

With six novels in the original source material and multiple conflicting perspectives mixed within, Frank Herbert’s Dune has long been considered impossible to film, despite several attempts.

Speaking during the Dune: Part Two panel along with co-writer and director Denis Villeneuve at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles, screenwriter Jon Spaihts admitted “it’s almost true” that Herbert’s 1965 novel is unadaptable.

“But Jon and I made some bold choices on the page that allowed us to — and technically, if we adapted the novel as it is, we would not be here,” said Villeneuve. “We would be dead by now. It is unadaptable.”

Spaihts added, “It was necessary to make choices and to leave behind things that we, as deep fans of the novel, love desperately, in order to tell a strand of a story that can fit into two epic films. And even that was hard work.

Zendaya’s Box Office Report Card 2024 (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Zendaya started her career at a very young age and is now one of the biggest talents among Hollywood’s present generation of actors. She appeared in two movies this year, Dune 2 and Challengers, both of which were in the news for good reasons. The actress has no more releases this year; thus, it’s time to look at her box office report card for 2024, which shows a 100% success ratio. Scroll below for the deets.

Zendaya’s 2024 Releases –

The Euphoria star’s first 2024 film was Denis Villeneuve’s Dune 2, which was also the first blockbuster of the year as well. It was the sequel to the 2021 movie and is based on Frank Herbert’s novel. She plays the role of Chani, a young and rebellious Fremen warrior who is also Paul’s love interest. She was praised for her...

Zendaya can easily be one of the most sought-after actresses for any filmmaker in today’s time. While some movies capture this to the best of their abilities, others failed to bring out the true acting genius of the actress on screen. One such movie of hers was Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, in which she had a screen time of 7 minutes, in a 155-minute movie.

Zendaya as Chani in Dune | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Fans were definitely enraged after seeing the same, given how the entire marking of the movie was done with Zendaya’s name on it. Now seems like Christopher Nolan’s upcoming movie featuring the actress is all set to give her Dune appearance a run for its money.

Zendaya’s Role in Christopher Nolan’s Upcoming Movie Sparks Hilarious Fan Reactions Zendaya and Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming | Credits: Sony Pictures Releasing

Zendaya has several...

Why Did Zendaya Get 7 Minutes Screen Time in Dune 2021? (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Zendaya’s Dune debut? Yeah, it was a whopping seven minutes. In a 155-minute movie, no less. That’s about 4.5% of the entire film—barely a cameo—and fans weren’t thrilled. Posters, trailers, and the whole press tour led everyone to believe Zendaya’s Chani would be front and center. Instead, her character was mostly a dream (literally) in Paul Atreides’ head. Cue the social media outrage. One fan even tweeted, “What Do You Mean Zendaya Is Only In Dune For Seven Minutes.” Same, though.

It turns out that director Denis Villeneuve had his reasons. He split Frank Herbert’s novel into two movies, calling it rich and complex. According to him, Dune needed that extra breathing room, which meant Zendaya’s Chani would stay mainly in the shadows until the sequel. Villeneuve didn’t have...

For “Dune: Part Two” director Denis Villeneuve, filmmaking is more than just a career… It’s a calling.

Villeneuve approaches each project with an almost spiritual reverence, especially Frank Herbert’s “Dune” series, a saga he describes as “a world with endless depth and complexity.” For fans eagerly awaiting a third installment, he carefully manages expectations around the prospect of “Dune: Messiah.” The director remains tight-lipped, saying, “I never like to talk about projects that are unborn,” and emphasizing his need to let stories “mature in private” before unveiling them to the world.

On this episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, the acclaimed Canadian director, producer, and writer talks about the success of his film “Dune: Part Two,” what to expect from the next installment, and the script sitting in his drawer. Listen below.

Villeneuve has been behind visionary projects like “Arrival” (2016), “Blade Runner 2049” (2017), and “Dune” (2022), which have...

Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney are among two of the most prominent young actresses in the industry. Both started their careers young, with Zendaya rising to prominence as a Disney kid in Shake It Up while Sweeney appeared as a preteen in several TV roles. Zendaya landed the role of Mj in Spider-Man: Homecoming, giving her mainstream prominence. Meanwhile, Sweeney got noticed for her roles in Everything Sucks! and Sharp Objects.

Zendaya as Chani in the Dune films | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Both would eventually appear in Sam Levinson’s Euphoria, the HBO series that significantly impacted their acting careers. It has been five years since Euphoria premiered, and both actresses have their own places in the industry. Yet they stand at surprisingly two levels when it comes to their paychecks.

Zendaya vs Sydney Sweeney: Who is the Highest-Paid Among the Two? Sydney Sweeney in Anyone But You | Credits: Netflix

Zendaya...

Born September 1, 1996, Zendaya rose to fame as a child star on the Disney Channel, with fan-favorite characters in “Shake It Up” and “K.C. Undercover.” The singer and actress soon started dabbling in feature films, where she earned the plum role of Mj, Tom Holland‘s love interest, in Marvel’s “Spider-Man” movies. Zendaya’s biggest claim to fame was in 2020, when she became the youngest-ever Emmy winner in the Best Drama Actress category for playing a teen drug addict on “Euphoria.” Her career continues to blossom thanks to recent releases like “Challengers” (directed by Luca Guadagnino) and “Dune” (directed by Denis Villeneuve).

Explore our photo gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see the 11 best Zendaya movies and TV shows, ranked. Does your #1 choice match ours?

11. ‘Shake It Up’ (2010-13)

This Disney Channel series marked the first major on-screen appearance for the then-13-year-old actress. Zendaya takes on the role Rocky Blue,...

At the end of 2021’s “Dune,” Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atriedes looks out across the desert in awe as he sees a Fremen of Arrakis riding a sandworm.

It was a tease of what was to come from director Denis Villeneuve in this year’s “Dune: Part Two.” Paul and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) immerse themselves in Fremen culture in the sequel, and the sandworm ride is a coming-of-age ritual. Paul riding a massive worm would be his ascension to power. The white-knuckled sequence where Paul mounts one and rides across the desert was something cinematographer Greig Fraser had to get right.

Speaking to Variety for the Inside the Frame series, Fraser explains “This is his journey of becoming accepted by the Fremen. It’s a journey that has come a long way up to this point. There is some part of the Fremen community that believes he’s going to die,...

Dune: Part Three — Everything You Need to Know About the Next Epic Installment! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Dennis Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune: Part 2 was a massive success at the box office. Based on Frank Herbert’s novels, the first two movies adapted the first novel in the series and focused on the character of Paul Atreides.

Dune has seen various adaptations over the years, but Villeneuve’s take has elevated the sci-fi/fantasy epic into a true Hollywood blockbuster. With Dune: Part Two performing impressively at the box office, grossing $714.4 million, a third film was evident. Moreover, the third chapter in the series will adapt the second novel, Dune: Messiah, and be a perfect conclusion to Paul Atreides’ journey.

Here’s everything you need to know about Dune: Part Three.

Dune: Part Three Confirmation

Villeneuve has teased the production start time to wrap up Paul Atreides’ arc in the final chapter of Dune.

Could Zendaya’s role in Dune be more powerful than we first thought? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Dune intrigued us from the start; Zendaya’s portrayal of Chani in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune intrigued us. But as Dune: Part Two gears up, Chani’s character arc is set to take a deeper dive than anyone expected. Forget the background role she held in Frank Herbert’s novels—Zendaya’s Chani is evolving into something more commanding, rebellious, and complicated than the fierce Fremen wife we first met.

While Herbert’s Chani was fiercely loyal to Paul Atreides, Villeneuve’s interpretation hints at a different story. In the first film, she’s already more than just Paul’s love interest—there’s a subtle tension, an unease in her eyes as she watches Paul’s power grow. As Dune: Part Two looms, we’re bracing for a Chani who questions the...

It seems Denis Villeneuve is ready to get sand-traumatized again. With awards season bearing down upon us, there's a strong chance the filmmaker will be spending the next several months gathering accolades left and right for "Dune: Part Two." Despite releasing in the first quarter of the year, Villeneuve's "Dune" sequel remains one of the most critically-acclaimed films of 2024 and is practically assured to be in the running for several Oscar categories at the 2025 Academy Awards ceremony. Not that Villeneuve is waiting around; he's currently got several irons in the fire, including a movie adaptation of author Annie Jacobsen's nonfiction book "Nuclear War: A Scenario" (via The Hollywood Reporter) and, oh right, "Dune 3."

The filmmaker's third trip to Arrakis is expected to adapt the second entry in Frank Herbert's original "Dune" novel sextet, 1969's "Dune Messiah," and only "Messiah". While it shouldn't be quite as monumental an...

Dune and Dune: Part Two are widely considered among the best sci-fi movies ever, and while the former faced many challenges courtesy of Covid (including a day-and-date release on what was then HBO Max), both were successful enough to warrant a threequel.

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve will return to helm Dune: Messiah, a movie he tells Deadline (via SFFGazette.com) "will finish the Paul Atreides arc." However, despite the fact author Frank Herbert wrote an additional four sequels after that one, this third instalment will be it for Villeneuve and Dune.

Explaining that he views the first two movies as "one entity," he the directed elaborated by saying those are "a movie made in two parts. It's finished, it's done."

As for why he came back for a third chapter, Villeneuve added, "Like Herbert did with Dune: Messiah, I think it’ll be a great idea to do something completely different.

Exclusive: Denis Villeneuve says that his “break” is over and that he will ”go back behind the camera faster than I think” to film the third installment of his “deep” immersion into Frank Herbert’s Dune universe.

“I’m in the writing zone right now,” the filmmaker says, referring to Dune: Messiah, though he was careful not to call it Dune: Part Three.

Villeneuve insists that Dune: Part One and Part Two are ”for me like one entity. It’s a movie made in two parts. It’s finished, it’s done.”

The Canadian-French director says that he could have stopped at Dune: Part Two, “but yes, like Herbert did with Dune: Messiah, I think it’ll be a great idea to do something completely different. The story takes place like 12 years after where we left the characters at the end of Part Two. Their journey, their story is different this time,...

Nominations voting is from January 8-12, 2025, with official Oscar nominations announced January 17, 2025. Final voting is February 11-18, 2025. And finally, the 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2, and air live on ABC at 7 p.m. Et/ 4 p.m. Pt. We update our picks throughout awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.

The State of the Race

“Anora” (Neon), “The Brutalist” (A24), “Nickel Boys” (Amazon MGM), “Emilia Pérez” (Netflix), “Maria” (Netflix), “The Fire Inside” (Amazon MGM), “Blitz” ( (Apple TV+), and “September 5” (Paramount) have all emerged from the fall festivals as Best Cinematography Oscar contenders. For those keeping track, “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” and “Maria” were all shot on Kodak film.

Other films still to come include “Gladiator II” (Paramount), “Wicked” (Universal), “Nosferatu”, and “A Complete Unknown” (Searchlight Pictures).

Prior to the fall festivals, “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) emerged as the early favorite, joined by such...

In the beauty of Sydney Sweeney, many forget the sheer amount of talent that the actress possesses. While works like Anyone But You and Madame Web did get the actress a lot of publicity, it would seem that she is going to force the world to see her talent. Recently, the actress has been spotted working on a project that could be good enough to earn her an Oscar nod.

Sydney Sweeney in a still from Euphoria | Credit: Max

The role could give the actress a lot of recognition, so much so, that she could follow a similar path to Charlize Theron. However, her performance could end up overshadowing her Euphoria co-star, Zendaya.

Sydney Sweeney and Breaking the Bombshell Trope

Sydney Sweeney is set to star in David Michôd’s upcoming biopic, following the story of the revolutionary boxer, Christy Martin. There are many chapters from Martin’s story that...

At a special screening of “Dune: Part Two” in London on Sunday, director Denis Villeneuve expressed his appreciation for the collaborative nature of filmmaking, contrasting it with the potential future of AI-generated movies.

“I work with tremendous artists. The thing about cinema I love the most is this collective act of creativity, where you try to make poetry … at the end of the day it is cinema, it is storytelling. It is very moving for me to make it together,” Villeneuve said in conversation with fellow filmmaker Joe Wright. “That is why, if ever one day we came up with … you can create a movie just with a computer, maybe it’s going to be interesting in some ways, but I will absolutely miss the collective act of creativity, which is so beautifully human.”

The director also revealed how his background in biology influenced the film’s creature design, particularly the sandworms.

Denis Villeneuve says he hopes to make a dialogue-free feature film, that focuses on “the power of images.”

Speaking at a BFI London Film Festival Screen Talk hosted by Brett Goldstein, Villeneuve said, “I love dialogue, but not [always] in cinema”, adding that it was sometimes better suited to theatre or television. “I hope one day I will be able to make a film that will not use spoken language,” added Villeneuve. “I try as much as possible to use the power of images.”

The topic of silence and listening came up several times during the 75-minute session, which picked up...

Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve and producers Mary Parent and Tanya Lapointe took part in a panel at Deadline’s Contenders London this morning which explored the journey behind their blockbuster hit.

Each of the trio was asked what they hoped audiences would take from the movie. Villeneuve said, “I tried to be faithful to Frank Herbert’s vision about the idea of a cautionary tale, about being careful with charismatic figures, and the danger of blending religion and politics.”

In Dune: Part Two, Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, the movie raked in $714M global and catapulted Warner Bros to become the first studio of 2024 to top $1B at the international box office, and in its own record time.

Legendary Entertainment chief Parent added, “I think Frank Herbert was prescient when he wrote the book.

Zendaya wants to leave her Dancing With the Stars experience in the past and is not looking back.

The Challengers star appeared on the ABC competition series in Season 16 in 2013. Zendaya was partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy and placed second, with the mirrorball trophy going to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough.

In a new interview with EW’s The Awardist podcast, Zendaya said she has “not watched Dancing With the Stars since I was on.”

“I didn’t really watch Dancing With the Stars before I was on Dancing With the Stars. I don’t think I was the target demographic,” she said. “My grandma loves Dancing with the Stars, that’s her bag. But yeah, I also think it was a very stressful experience. I was like, I don’t think I’m gonna be watching this anymore.”

Zendaya got her start in television, starring on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up...

Denis Villeneuve is one of the most exciting directors on this (or any other) planet, his two-part adaptation of Dune standing as a colossus in modern science-fiction moviemaking. And now, with our very special Empire VIP members event, you could be in the room with him while he talks about the making of Dune: Part Two, and its predecessor.

On the afternoon of Saturday 12 October, the master filmmaker will join us for a deep dive into bringing Frank Herbert’s epic novel to life – from the escalating love story between Paul Atreides and Chani, to the all-out Fremen war, to the colour-bleached Geide Prime arena brawl. With clips from the two Dune films, there will also be a discussion of the movies by Team Empire (prepare for Dune-splaining), and an opportunity to put your questions to the Villeneuve himself. It will be an unforgettable afternoon – so sign up quickly to spice up your life.

As her career continues to accelerate, actress Jenna Ortega remains focused on portraying complex characters through collaborations with leading directors. The 20-year-old star, known for roles in the Netflix series “Wednesday” and films by Tim Burton, revealed she had auditioned in the past for a part in Denis Villeneuve’s blockbuster “Dune.”

While she did not earn a role in that production, Ortega maintains a strong admiration for Villeneuve’s visionary work. With the “Dune” franchise now growing across multiple planned films and a new TV series, the expanding story could present future opportunities for talented actors like Ortega.

In a recent interview, Ortega opened up about her attempt several years ago to join the cast of Villeneuve’s 2020 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal science fiction novel. Though details of the needed role remained covert, she believes it was likely that of Chani, eventually portrayed by Zendaya. “I remember...

The widespread belief about Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet‘s relationship right now is that they’re getting more serious as time progresses. They’ve been romantically linked since September 2023. They were seen hard launching their relationship at a Beyonce concert that month. But it doesn’t look like actively they’re jumping in line to do everything and anything together. Timothee was recently spotted out and about with some of his Dune: Part 2 costars and Kylie was nowhere in sight.

Timothee Chalamet Hung Out With His Dune Costars Without Kylie Jenner

According to Daily Mail, Timothee was seen with some famous friends in New York City on September 21st. The celebs he was with were Zendaya and Austin Butler. They all filmed Dune: Part 2 together. Timothee, Zendaya, and Austin appeared to enjoy a casual evening out together in the Big Apple.

It’s unclear if they were celebrating anything,...

During a screening event held in New York City for Dune: Part Two, Zendaya discussed the pressures of fame and not knowing if she “can handle all of that,” saying she would like to be seen as a “person” first and foremost.

The conversation, moderated by journalist Erik Davis, opened up to questions from the audience, including one which drew comparisons between the warnings of Messianic cult followings depicted in the epic sci-fi film and the state of celebrity fandoms in pop culture nowadays.

While the question initially left panelists filmmaker Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Austin Butler reeling with thoughts, chuckles and some slight overwhelm, Chalamet opted to respond first, saying in jest, “If I start answering, you guys need to answer too though.”

True to the spirit of her character Chani, Zendaya assured, “I’ll have your back, I gotcha.”

Though Chalamet took the answer...

If we were to talk about the hottest talent in the film industry today, Zendaya’s name would probably slip into the conversation more than once. An actress and singer who started her career as a Disney star, she has gone on to become one of the most wanted talents of her age.

Zendaya in Spider-Man: No Way Home | Credit: Marvel Studios

From her role in Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise to starring in the teen drama Euphoria, there hardly seems to be a role that Zendaya cannot shine in. The youngest-ever recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, it seems that this year, the Challengers star is going after the grand prize even if it means clashing against the likes of Angelina Jolie.

Emmy-Winning Actress Zendaya is Heading for the Grand Prize This Year Zendaya in Challengers | Credit: Warner Bros.

Zendaya, much like many young actors,...

Anya Taylor-Joy and Florence Pugh to Have Larger Roles in Dune: Messiah - Main Image

The first two Dune movies from Denis Villeneuve may have covered all the main beats of the main book, but it’s been confirmed that Villeneuve is actually planning three movies, and Dune: Messiah has already been given the greenlight.

Though they only appeared briefly in the second movie, Villeneuve has confirmed that these two supporting characters are going to be more prominent in the spotlight by the third movie.

Florence Pugh and Anya Taylor-Joy's Larger Involvement in Dune: Messiah

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair (via @FilmUpdates), Villeneuve confirmed that Anya Taylor-Joy (Alia Atreides) and Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan) are going to have larger roles in the upcoming Dune: Messiah.

It’s not been confirmed how their parts are going to be handled, but with the character of Alia being an unborn child...

Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve recently shared a positive update on Warner Bros.' plans for a third movie, confirming that the script for an adaptation of Dune: Messiah is officially in the works.

Though the filmmaker hasn't full committed to helming the project, we'd be very surprised if he didn't return to finish his take on this saga - although, if and when he does, he won't actually consider it a trilogy.

“First, it’s important that people understand that for me, it was really a diptych,” Villeneuve says of the first two movies during an interview with Vanity Fair. “It was really a pair of movies that will be the adaptation of the first book. That’s done and that’s finished. If I do a third one, which is in the writing process, it’s not like a trilogy. It’s strange to say that, but if I go back there,...

Both of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films crushed it at the box office, with the sequel being one of the most-watched movies of the year. The way it ended left things wide open, getting fans hyped for another movie, which the director confirmed not long after it hit theaters.

Still from Dune: Part 2 (Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures)

But it’s important to keep in mind that fans are already expecting something even more different. The first two films wrapped up some storylines, but others are still left hanging, and unlike the books, a few changes have been made. So, how can Dune 3 work without completely altering the story in a movie that’s supposed to wrap up the trilogy?

What Is Known About Denis Villeneuve’s Updates On Dune 3? Denis Villeneuve – Credits: Gage Skidmore/Cca 2.0 (Credits: Wikimedia Commons)

Denis Villeneuve, a visionary and a huge fan of Dune, seems...

Although Dune: Part Two didn't reach $1 billion at the global box office as some had predicted (always a long shot in the current climate), it did pass $700 million worldwide, meaning a third film based on Frank Herbert's second novel, Dune: Messiah, always seemed likely.

Part Three still hasn't been officially greenllt by the studio, but director Denis Villeneuve has now shared a very positive update on Warner Bros.' plans for the final chapter.

While speaking to Variety at TIFF, the filmmaker confirmed that the script for Dune: Part Three is officially "in the works."

#Dune director Denis Villeneuve says that the script for the third film is "in the works." #TIFF https://t.co/5iTjRpVd1p pic.twitter.com/FPKDv3zPoT

— Variety (@Variety) September 8, 2024

This is obviously a strong indication that Villeneuve intends to return to complete the trilogy, but he hasn't always sounded too certain about it.

Zendaya is one of the most popular young actresses today. The actress started climbing her Hollywood ranks in various roles but the most notable among them are MCU’s Mj in Spider-Man’s ‘Home’ trilogy, the role of Rue Bennett in ‘Euphoria,’ and most recently, the role of Chani in ‘Dune’ franchise.

Zenadaya recently appeared in ‘Challengers’ playing Tashi Duncan alongside Josh O’Connor as Patrick Zweig and Mike Faist as Art Donaldson.

The movie was a critical success. Critics praised ‘Challengers’ for its dynamic performances and engaging energy. The film is celebrated for its “kinetic and sexy romp” on the court, driven by its talented cast. Although audience reactions were more mixed, the critical consensus highlights the film’s strong star power and lively execution.

Since the movie is R-rated it does have one notable three-way scene between the main characters, which Zendaya admitted enjoyed filming.

While promoting the movie during Jimmy Kimmel Live,...

Deadline is reporting that Jon Spaihts, who worked with Denis Villeneuve on the screenplays for the Dune films and penned the Chris Pratt/Jennifer Lawrence space romance drama Passengers, will be making his directorial debut on a film that he will also write. It is a yet-to-be-titled sci-fi thriller and will be produced by Laika’s live-action division. The Oregon-based studio is usually known for their animation work and has been nominated for a number of Academy Awards. Their specialty also lies predominantly on stop-motion animation.

While details are scant at the moment, per Deadline, the new sci-fi thriller will tell “the tale of a woman investigating a mystery that took place during a week she cannot remember.” Spaihts spoke of his directorial debut in a statement that said, “This is an original passion project I’ve been eager to turn to for a while, and I couldn’t ask for better partners.

Beetlejuice 2 stars Jenna Ortega and Winona Ryder are showing great camaraderie during promotions which has won fans over. Ortega and Ryder are promoting their film at the Venice Film Festival, where Beetlejuice Beetlejuice had its world premiere. During a moment on the red carpet that has gone viral, Ortega can be seen defending the Stranger Things star against a rude paparazzi request.

Winona Ryder and Justin Theroux in a still from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice | Credits: Warner Bros.

In the Tim Burton sequel, Ortega plays the daughter, Astrid Deetz, of Ryder’s Lydia Deetz, the previous film’s protagonist. It was clear from the press junkets of the film that the Wednesday actress has clearly impressed her senior co-stars. Ryder and Michael Keaton only had great things to say about Ortega.

Jenna Ortega Protects Winona Ryder From Paparazzi Like A Boss Jenna Ortega in a still from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice | Credits: Warner Bros.