Quentin Tarantino doesn’t mince words or shies away from sharing his opinion. One way to sum up the filmmaker’s attitude (and ego) is that, it’s generally considered déclassé and gauche in Hollywood to shit on another director’s work (Paul Thomas Anderson’s quote on the matter about not bad-mouthing salient). Yet for years, Tarantino used to make a top ten list of his favorite films, make them public and also, in that list, usually take the opportunity to mention his most hated film of the year too and often criticize movies harshly. 

Continue reading Quentin Tarantino Dislikes Remakes; Refuses To Watch Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ Movies, ‘Shōgun’ & More at The Playlist.

When will Denis Villeneuve make “Dune: Messiah“?  The answer may be sooner than “Dune” fans think. Deadline reports that the director gave an update on the sequel in a new interview with the outlet, or at least a tentative one: 2026 looks to be the start date.

“I’m in the writing zone right now,” Villeneuve said about the upcoming project, although he remained coy about naming it “Dune: Messiah” or “Dune: Part Three.” He also confirmed that his “break” from filmmaking is over, and he’ll “go back behind the camera faster than I think.” Villeneuve fans knew that already after Warner Bros.

Continue reading ‘Dune: Messiah’: Denis Villeneuve Teases He’ll Shoot His Sequel In 2026 at The Playlist.

It makes sense that fans of the two “Dune” films would want Denis Villeneuve to continue to make movies in that franchise forever. He has already done what many people thought impossible—make “Dune” a huge hit. Sadly, the filmmaker has said that he is only interested in making one more film in the franchise. However, Villeneuve is more than happy to tease more stories in the ‘Dune’ universe for other filmmakers to tackle. 

Continue reading Denis Villeneuve Is Happy To Plant “Seeds” In ‘Dune: Messiah’ So The Franchise Can Keep Going Without Him at The Playlist.

Denis Villeneuve has been a busy filmmaker. The past several years have been 100% devoted to the two-film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune.” But after the massive success of both films, financially and critically, fans are desperate to know if or when he’s going to return to finish the story with “Dune: Messiah.” 

In a new episode of the Little Gold Men podcast on Vanity Fair, Denis Villeneuve talked about the monumental task of adapting “Dune” for the big screen and why he’s not rushing to make ‘Messiah,’ even if film fans are dying to see it. 

Continue reading Denis Villeneuve Says ‘Dune: Messiah’ Isn’t Part Of A Trilogy & Will Have A “Different” Cinematic Identity at The Playlist.

Denis Villeneuve will be back in theaters for the 2026 holiday season, but will his next feature be “Dune: Part Three“? That’s the question on everyone’s mind as THR reports that Warner Bros. has the director’s next film with Legendary Entertainment slotted for a December 18, 2026, theatrical release. And since the project hails from Legendary, it could be only one of two things: a “Dune” sequel or a nuclear war event film based on Annie Jacobsen‘s recent nonfiction bestseller.

Continue reading Warner Bros. Dates Denis Villeneuve’s Next Film For December 18, 2026 & Next MonsterVerse Movie For March 26, 2027 at The Playlist.

As an actress and executive producer, Zendaya is already a multi-hyphenate, but she’s not quite ready to climb into a director’s chair.  IndieWire reports (via The New York Times) that the “Challengers” star needs more time before she directs her first project. But when that day comes, Luca Guadagnino will say, “I told you so.”

READ MORE: ‘Challengers’ Review: Zendaya Rules This Love Triangle

“I’m overly conscious of everything else around me,” Zendaya told the publication in an interview for Guada’s new tennis drama, in theaters today.  That’s when Guadagnino chimed in, “Because Z is a director. I told you many times, and I repeat it now to The Times.”  Zendaya stressed that she’s still “learning,” but given the pedigree of directors she’s worked with recently, like Guadagnino and Denis Villeneuve, she may be further along in her apprenticeship than she thinks.

Continue reading Zendaya Says She’s “Not Quite Confident Enough” To Direct Yet, But Luca Guadagnino Thinks Otherwise at The Playlist.

“Dune” filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has a lot of options for what he could make next, and one of them could be his long-gestating “Cleopatra” movie based on the Stacy Schiff novel “Cleopatra: A Life” for Sony Pictures (he has a couple of options, one of them being a third “Dune” movie too).

Before that, however, some may remember the era when filmmaker David Fincher had a version of the movie set up at Paramount, circa 2012, that would have starred Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie  (long before the competing Gal Gadot incarnation with Patty Jenkins and Kari Skogland).

Continue reading Brian Helgeland Shares Details On David Fincher’s Unmade ‘Cleopatra’ Film Almost Starring Angelina Jolie at The Playlist.

Well, that didn’t take long, did it? EW reports that, thanks to the success of “Dune: Part Two,” Legendary and Dnis Villeneuve have “Dune 3” in development. That comes as no surprise to moviegoers. Villeneuve’s latest is the first critical darling of 2024, and currently holds the spot atop the year’s highest-grossing films. Of course, when “Dune 3” arrives is another question, and Villeneuve has several other projects in the works (including Legendary’s option of “Nuclear War: A Scenario,” which they’d like the director to tackle), that could be his next project.

Continue reading ‘Dune 3’: Legendary & Denis Villeneuve Officially Have Sequel In Development at The Playlist.

With “Dune: Part Two” now in the rearview mirror, what’s next for Denis Villeneuve? First, a well-deserved rest, but the director said last month that he has “four projects on the table,” including “Dune Messiah,” “Cleopatra,” and another secret project. But what about the fourth?

READ MORE: ‘Dune: Messiah’: Denis Villeneuve Says He’ll Make Sequel Only If “It’s Going To Be Better Than ‘Part Two'”

Well, it could be “Nuclear War: A Scenario.” Deadline reports that Legendary Entertainment optioned Annie Jacobsen‘s nonfiction bestseller and eyes Villeneuve to direct.

Continue reading ‘Nuclear War: A Scenario’: Legendary Options Annie Jacobsen’s Nonfiction Bestseller, Eyes Denis Villeneuve To Direct at The Playlist.

As “Dune: Part Two” looks to potentially double the global box office grosses of the original installment in the coming weeks (it currently sits at $628.8 million), fans of the franchise were a little surprised a few characters were missing in the sequel. One of those characters was Stephen McKinley Henderson‘s Thufir Hawat, a loyal member of House Atreides, prominently featured in the first film. However, while speaking to Entertainment Weekly while promoting “Civil War” this week, the actor said that he has “no regrets” that his character’s scenes were cut from the film.

Continue reading ‘Dune: Part Two’ Actor Stephen McKinley Henderson Has “No Regrets” About His Character’s Scenes Being Cut at The Playlist.

It’s a rare treat when two genre filmmaking giants like Steven Spielberg and Denis Villeneuve come together to share their insights. In a recent episode of The Director’s Cut—A DGA Podcast, these visionary filmmakers sat down for a conversation that was both entertaining and enlightening. Spielberg, in particular, didn’t hold back in his praise for Villeneuve, particularly commending his unique approach to filmmaking and his latest masterpiece, “Dune: Part Two,” and welcoming him into the upper echelon of directors.

Continue reading Steven Spielberg Says Denis Villeneuve Deserves To Be Among The Great “Builder Of Worlds” Modern Filmmakers In New Podcast Chat at The Playlist.

After three weeks in theaters, “Dune: Part Two” currently reigns as the top-grossing film of 2024 with $512.1 million globally. That’s about $80 million more total gross than its 2021 predecessor, and guarantees Warner Bros. will greenlight “Dune: Messiah,” right? Not so fast. Empire reports that director Denis Villeneuve wants to make a third “Dune” film, but he needs an extended break from the first (and an idea that makes it “real” and “relevant”).  

Continue reading ‘Dune: Messiah’: Denis Villeneuve Says He’ll Make Sequel Only If “It’s Going To Be Better Than ‘Part Two'” at The Playlist.

Having grossed nearly $375 million at the worldwide box office ($362 million so far), Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” appears to be a big success, even though it apparently needs to hit the $500 million mark to break even. Ah, movie math. Regardless, the movie looks like it will quickly clear the $434.8 million earnings of the original film and set the stage for part three, known as “Dune: Messiah.”

And while we wait for word from Legendary and Warner Bros.

Continue reading ‘Dune Messiah’: Denis Villeneuve Says Florence Pugh & Anya Taylor-Joy Give Him “The Will Do Another One” at The Playlist.

Last week saw the global launch of Denis Villeneuve’s second “Dune” film, wrapping up the conclusion of the first novel adaptation while also leaving everything on a cliffhanger for a third movie that the filmmaker is co-writing with franchise screenwriter Jon Spaihts. Strong critical responses and audience word of mouth have paid off big time for the film as it has made some history over the weekend, becoming the biggest opening for the director and overperforming compared to the first part that was released back in September 2021.

Continue reading ‘Dune: Part Two’s Domestic Opening Of $82.5M Doubles ‘Dune’ Box Office Take With Spicy $179.5M Global Debut at The Playlist.

If we’re going to praise the visual rapture of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” movies—and we should—and in particular, the newly released “Dune: Part Two,” there’s no conversation that can happen without mention of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser, who won his first Oscar for “Dune” in 2022.

READ MORE: Denis Villeneuve Calls ‘Dune: Part Two’ A “Dark Tragedy,” Talks Potential ‘Messiah’ Sequel & More [Interview]

While “Dune: Part Two” is genuinely unanimously praised by critics (read our review here)—and this weekend, it grossed $178.5 million worldwide, and with $81 domestic, that’s the biggest opening since “Barbie”— it does have a small group of detractors.

Continue reading Cinematographer Greig Fraser Talks ‘Dune: Part Two,’ The Volume & Says ‘Batman: Part II’ Will Be “Amazing” at The Playlist.

*Some spoilers ahead for “Dune: Part Two” in the following article, beware.”

When adapting a rich sci-fi fantasy literary franchise as dense and epic as the scale of Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” some things just won’t be able to make the feature film adaptation. As you may have noticed if you saw this film this weekend, there are a few elements seen in the David Lynch incarnation that didn’t make it into director Denis Villeneuve’s two-part incarnation, such as the Spicing Guild and Navigator (A mutated clairvoyant that warns The Emperor of House Atreides and Paul Atreides becoming a threat to them).

Continue reading ‘Dune: Part Two’: Denis Villeneuve Calls Cutting Stephen McKinley Henderson’s Character A “Painful Choice “ at The Playlist.

Many questions abound with “Dune: Part Two” now in theaters. Will it be the theatrical smash hit Warner Bros. expects it to be? Will it be so successful that Denis Villeneuve and his “Dune” cast have no choice but to expedite development on “Dune Messiah” and shoot it as soon as possible? And if not, where does Villeneuve go from here creatively? Maybe he pivots to his long-developing “Cleopatra” project, or instead to new project entirely?

Continue reading Denis Villeneuve Has “Four Projects On The Table,” But Won’t Work In “Someone Else’s Universe” Again Like ‘Blade Runner 2049’ at The Playlist.

Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” opens this Friday, March 1, and returning for the film as the Bene Gesserit Lady Jessica and Paul Atreides’ mother is actress Rebecca Ferguson, known for the “Mission Impossible” franchise (read our review).

As I noted earlier this week, Ferguson can be a mercurial interview; she’s spirited, unconventional, can turn on a dime, and doesn’t suffer fools gladly.

Continue reading Rebecca Ferguson Talks ‘Dune: Part Two,’ Bene Gesserit Fundamentalism, ‘Dead Reckoning & More [Interview] at The Playlist.

Following ecstatic reviews (including ours) and a super impressive Rotten review score of 97, Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” seems poised to not only conquer the sagging 2024 box office but enliven it, perhaps giving it the shot in the arm it needs.

READ MORE: ‘Dune: Part Two’ Review: A Darker, Devastating Blockbuster & Cautionary Tale About Prophecy, Fate & False Idols

It’s a colossal film and an immense achievement, but a much darker film, and clearly much darker than I expected (full disclosure: I started reading, but put down Frank Herbert‘s “Dune” before the first film came out; more below).

Continue reading Denis Villeneuve Calls ‘Dune: Part Two’ A “Dark Tragedy,” Talks Potential ‘Messiah’ Sequel & More [Interview] at The Playlist.

As her many online fans have noticed, Rebecca Ferguson is playful, eccentric, sometimes very candid, can turn on a dime, and does not suffer fools. Interviewing her can be like riding a wild bull, a bit unpredictable and disarming, and I found that to be very much the case with my latest interview with her about “Dune: Part Two” (read our review here). The actress, if nothing else, is quite frank and sometimes even blunt about her opinions.

Continue reading Rebecca Ferguson Calls Denis Villeneuve “Exquisite,” But Says ‘Dune: Messiah’ Needs To Be “Worth It” at The Playlist.

Sometimes, a filmmaker makes a comment in the home stretch of promotion for their film that either blows up the marketing plan or irritates the rank and file of cineastes. And just as “Dune: Part Two” is about to hit theaters (read our review), director Denis Villeneuve seems to have made provocative comments in a recent interview that have kind of blown up the internet. Or, well, Film Twitter, at least.

Continue reading Denis Villeneuve Says Movies Have Been “Corrupted By Television” & He “Hates Dialogue” at The Playlist.

Austin Butler‘s breakout came from a Method acting performance for the ages in Baz Luhrmann‘s “Elvis,” with the actor living in the role on camera and off for about three years. But Butler wasn’t about to do that for Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in “Dune: Part Two“. After all, why would anyone want to embody a villain like that 24 hours a day?

Continue reading ‘Dune: Part Two’: Denis Villeneuve Says Austin Butler Dialed Back On Method Acting, Was Only “25 Or 30%” Feyd-Rautha Harkonnon Off-Camera at The Playlist.

As always, the 2024 Sundance Film Festival gave us several likely Oscar nominees. Keiran Culkin for “A Real Pain,” documentaries “Union” or “Daughters“,” and, potentially, Sebastian Stan for “A Different Man.” But there was no Best Picture player in the vein of “Past Lives” or “CODA” in Park City last month, at least, there didn’t seem to be.

Continue reading Yes, ‘Dune: Part Two’ Is The First Major Best Picture Player Of 2025 at The Playlist.

Immense, remarkably captivating, imposing, and right on the edge of overblown, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” is a spectacular blockbuster epic in the grandest sense of the tradition. Picking up where ‘Part One’ left off, this darker, bleaker, moodier sequel is a grand war movie but also a devastating cautionary tale about messiahs, idolatry, and the dangers of false gods. Likened to “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,” with apologies to George Lucas, his film is a simple defeat and setback to the valiant heroes.

Continue reading ‘Dune: Part Two’ Review: A Darker, Devastating Blockbuster & Cautionary Tale About Prophecy, Fate & False Idols at The Playlist.

Recently, “Oppenheimer” filmmaker Christopher Nolan made headlines by favorably comparing Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” to the “Star Wars” sequel, “The Empire Strikes Back.” Those comments come from a conversation that took place on February 2, 2024, after a screening of Nolan’s sci-fi “Tenet” in IMAX 70mm Film at AMC CityWalk, as the film was recently given a quick theatrical re-release (“Tenet” came out during the pandemic and wasn’t as widely seen theatrically as most of Nolan’s movies, only grossing 365.3 million, given that was the heart of COVID-19 season in summer 2020).

Continue reading Watch: Christopher Nolan & Denis Villeneuve In 30-Minute Conversation About ‘Tenet,’ IMAX, The Bond Movie Influence & More at The Playlist.