Denis Villeneuve Reveals Why He Shuns Star Wars Films

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve recently shared his thoughts on why he has no interest in directing a Star Wars film. During a podcast discussion, the director fondly recalled being enamored with the original trilogy, especially A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. However, he expressed disappointment with Return of the Jedi, which he felt turned the saga into a more child-friendly experience, particularly criticizing the Ewoks. Villeneuve believes that Star Wars has become overly formulaic and lacks the surprises that initially captivated him. Interestingly, he also ruled out the possibility of making a Star Trek film, identifying as not a Trekkie. Meanwhile, updates regarding a potential third Dune movie remain under wraps, even as Legendary confirms collaboration with him.

Denis Villeneuve decided against directing Star Wars because he feels the series has become overly formulaic, losing the surprises and excitement that initially attracted him. He specifically mentioned his disappointment with Return of the Jedi and the comedic direction taken with elements like the Ewoks, which ultimately soured his opinion on the franchise.

Denis Villeneuve is well-known for his acclaimed direction of sci-fi films, notably Dune, which is based on Frank Herbert's novels that similarly inspired George Lucas’ original Star Wars. Dune has received critical acclaim for its stunning visuals and deep storytelling, tapping into themes of power and responsibility, which resonate throughout both franchise universes.