Denis Villeneuve, the visionary filmmaker behind Dune and Blade Runner 2049, has openly stated his lack of interest in directing a Star Wars movie.
For fans hoping to see Villeneuve’s signature style within the Star Wars universe, his reasoning might come as a surprise—or not, depending on how you view the evolution of Star Wars.
Villeneuve’s Journey From Star Wars Fan to Sci-Fi Trailblazer
In a recent episode of The Town podcast, director Denis Villeneuve shared his thoughts on the Star Wars franchise, expressing his disinterest in directing a Star Wars film.
He recounted his deep admiration for the original trilogy, particularly A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, which he watched repeatedly during his youth.
“I was the target audience, I was ten years old, it went to my brain like a silver bullet, I became obsessed with Star Wars. I mean, The Empire Strikes Back is the movie that I anticipated the most in my life. I saw the movie a billion times on screen, I was traumatized by The Empire Strikes Back.”
However, Villeneuve admitted that his love for the franchise took a hit with Return of the Jedi. “I adore Star Wars,” he said, “The problem is that it all derailed in 1983 with Return of the Jedi. I was 15 years old; my best friend and I wanted to take a cab, go to LA, and talk to George Lucas. We were so angry. Still today, the Ewoks… it turned out to be a comedy for kids.”
He further elaborated on why he isn’t drawn to working on the franchise today, citing what he sees as its lack of creative flexibility. “I thought that Star Wars became crystallized in its own mythology, very dogmatic,” Villeneuve explained. “It seemed like a recipe, no more surprises. So I’m not dreaming to do a Star Wars; the code is very codified.”
For Villeneuve, the franchise’s evolution into a formulaic structure is a major deterrent. He believes that while Star Wars maintains its grandeur and appeal to its fan base, the creativity within the storytelling has been restricted by its own success.
“When you work on a Star Wars film, you’re not just telling a story—you’re operating within a massive, predetermined system of rules and expectations,” Villeneuve seemed to imply.