Dune is not the first renowned sci-fi franchise that director Denis Villeneuve has ventured into. Back in 2015, this Oscar-nominated director took on the formidable challenge of creating a sequel to one of the most cherished sci-fi films ever: Ridley Scott’s 1982 masterpiece, Blade Runner. The result, Blade Runner 2049, premiered in 2017 to critical acclaim, although it struggled at the box office. Despite this, Villeneuve was widely commended for daring to take on such a monumental project.
Villeneuve himself deemed this choice as one of the “most risky” within his career. He shared his thoughts during a recent retrospective discussion at the London Film Festival, where he engaged in conversation with Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein. During the talk, Villeneuve elaborated on his experience with Blade Runner 2049 and the choices leading to it.
“Directing a sequel to a Ridley Scott classic was probably the worst idea I’ve ever had,” Villeneuve quipped. He acknowledged how Blade Runner 2049 had the potential to swiftly end his career if it flopped, but that did not deter him from pursuing a project inspired by Scott’s vision. Ultimately, he concluded that creating a sequel to his favorite film would be a fitting conclusion to his career, remarking that he found it quite romantic.
Contrary to expectations, Blade Runner 2049 did not mark the end of Villeneuve’s journey. Instead, his recent projects, Dune: Part One released in 2021 and this year’s Dune: Part Two, have firmly established him as a standout filmmaker in modern cinema. These films have significantly enhanced his stature in Hollywood, drawing attention to his growing filmography. In comparison, Blade Runner 2049 did not achieve the same level of mainstream success as the Dune series; however, it has cultivated a dedicated fanbase over time and earned greater respect since its debut.
In this respect, the Blade Runner sequel parallels the Dune: Part One and Part Two films. As with those projects, Villeneuve demonstrated his ability to undertake ambitious blockbuster endeavors and execute them with a level of creativity that eclipses many of his peers. Four years after Blade Runner 2049, he reaffirmed this talent with the successful release of the first part of his widely praised adaptation of Dune.
