Denis Villeneuve Reveals Why He Wouldn’t Direct a Star Wars Movie

Denis Villeneuve Reveals Why He Wouldn’t Direct a Star Wars Movie

As a child of the ’80s, I vividly remember the thrill and excitement that the original Star Wars trilogy brought into my young life. The Force Awakened within me at the tender age of 10 when I first saw A New Hope, and The Empire Strikes Back left me so traumatized (in a good way!) that I couldn’t help but anticipate its sequel with bated breath. However, much like Obi-Wan Kenobi’s spirit, the magic of Star Wars seemed to have faded away for me after Return of the Jedi.


Director Denis Villeneuve is renowned for helming some of the top-rated and critically acclaimed science fiction films from the past two decades, yet he has no inclination towards directing a Star Wars film. This is because he feels that the franchise lost its course post 1983.

What did Denis Villeneuve say about making a Star Wars movie?

During a chat on The Town podcast (as reported by The Hollywood Reporter), Villeneuve expressed his change in feelings towards the famous series, stating that his affection for it dwindled following the release of 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

He shared, “As a kid of 10, I was the perfect audience for it. Star Wars left an indelible mark on me, like a silver bullet to my young mind. It consumed me completely. To be honest, The Empire Strikes Back was the film I eagerly awaited more than any other in my lifetime. I must’ve watched that movie a billion times on screen. And let me tell you, The Empire Strikes Back left an emotional scar on me. But I can’t get enough of Star Wars.

Villeneuve stated that, in his opinion, the Star Wars franchise lost its original direction after the release of Return of the Jedi in 1983, and has since been deeply rooted in its own mythos, leaving little room for unexpected twists.

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“The problem is that it all derailed in 1983 with Return of the Jedi,” he continued. “It’s a long story. I was 15 years old, and my best friend and I wanted to take a cab and go to L.A. and talk to George Lucas — we were so angry! Still today, the Ewoks. It turned out to be a comedy for kids. … Star Wars became crystallized in its own mythology, very dogmatic, it seemed like a recipe, no more surprises. So I’m not dreaming to do a Star Wars because it feels like code is very codified.”

Although Denis Villeneuve appears unwilling to direct a Star Wars film in the future, his work on the adaptation of Dune continues to progress. After the immense success of the initial two movies, Villeneuve is currently engaged in producing a third film, titled Dune: Messiah, which aims to conclude the trilogy of films.

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2024-11-28 00:40