Most of us, even award-winning directors, are just grown-up children. Denis Villeneuve, the director of Dune: Part Two, recently shared on The Town podcast how his childhood disappointment in Return of the Jedi still affects him today, preventing him from ever directing a Star Wars movie. This childhood influence has stayed with him for over 40 years.
Back in 1977, like many children, Villeneuve was deeply impacted by the first Star Wars film, A New Hope. He described it as hitting his brain like a silver bullet. He was a huge Star Wars fan but was traumatized by The Empire Strikes Back, especially when the villain turned out to be the father of the hero. However, it was Return of the Jedi that really disappointed him. At the age of 15, he and his best friend were so upset with the film that they wanted to take a cab to L.A. to talk to George Lucas. The Ewoks, in particular, made the film feel like a comedy for kids to Villeneuve.
As Villeneuve grew older, he outgrew the Star Wars franchise, which George Lucas had originally intended for 12-year-olds. He has no desire to direct a Star Wars film, as he feels the code of the franchise is too codified for his liking. Instead, he prefers to explore themes of outer space classism with elements like godly sandworms and messiahs in his own films.
The director has been vocal about his criticisms of Star Wars, stating in a 2023 interview that the franchise had lost its elegance and had moved away from the psychological journey of Luke Skywalker. He expressed his disappointment by saying, “I never left Star Wars, Star Wars left me.” As Villeneuve nears the completion of his Dune trilogy, which he doesn’t consider a trilogy, fans can only hope that he sticks the landing in a way that satisfies him, unlike how he feels about the Star Wars franchise.
With his unique vision and storytelling, Villeneuve continues to captivate audiences with his films, diving into complex themes and intricate narratives that set him apart from other directors in the industry. His refusal to conform to traditional storytelling methods and his willingness to explore new territories in filmmaking have made him a respected figure in the world of cinema. As he pursues his creative endeavors, fans eagerly await to see what groundbreaking projects he will embark on next, knowing that whatever he chooses to create will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the world of film.
