Movies

Denis Villeneuve explains why he’ll never direct a Star Wars film

BBG News

As a fellow child of the ’80s, I can empathize with Denis Villeneuve‘s Star Wars fandom and subsequent disillusionment. Like him, I too was captivated by the galaxy far, far away as a youngster, eagerly awaiting each new adventure. However, it seems our paths diverged when it comes to the Ewoks. While they might have been cute and cuddly, their presence in Return of the Jedi left me feeling more like a Wookiee who had just lost his robe in a bar fight.

As a child, Denis Villeneuve held a deep affection for Star Wars. However, having been nominated for an Oscar and established as a filmmaker, he currently shows no inclination towards participating in the Star Wars space saga.

It is all because of Ewoks.

In a recent interview on “The Town” podcast, the director of “Dune” admitted to being deeply captivated by Star Wars when he was younger. However, this passion waned following the premiere of “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi”.

Villeneuve recalled, ‘I was exactly the right age to be captivated. I was ten years old when I first watched Star Wars. It felt like a silver bullet straight to my mind. I became completely engrossed in it.’ Specifically, The Empire Strikes Back was the film I had been eagerly awaiting since my youth. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched it on screen. The film left a deep impression on me, and I have always cherished Star Wars.’

“The problem is that it all derailed in 1983 with Return of the Jedi.”

It appears that adding Ewoks in the last film of the original Star Wars trilogy didn’t sit right with the director when he was 15 years old. So upset by this decision, he and his best friend considered hailing a cab to Los Angeles just to discuss their disagreement directly with George Lucas, as he recounted later on.

“We were so angry! Still today, the Ewoks. It turned out to be a comedy for kids.”

As a die-hard Star Wars fan, I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed when it comes to “Return of the Jedi.” Compared to the epic grandeur of “A New Hope” and the emotional depth of “The Empire Strikes Back,” it just doesn’t quite hit the mark. One aspect that always seems to spark debate among fans is the use of Ewoks in the final battle against the Empire. To me, these adorable, furry creatures felt out of place in such a serious situation, and the ensuing battle sequence felt a bit too fantastical for my taste.

Regarding the possibility of helming a Star Wars film, Villeneuve expresses reservations because he feels it might offer limited scope for innovative creativity.

Instead of creating another “Star Wars”, it seems the formula or rules for that universe have become rigid and predictable, like following a well-established recipe without any room for surprise. Consequently, I’m not aspiring to make something similar as it appears too structured and formulaic.

Though there’s a possibility he might collaborate with Lucasfilm down the line, it’s uncertain if he would participate in a Disney+ project because he isn’t particularly fond of streaming platforms. He holds the opinion that the cinema experience, including the big screen, is integral to the movie-watching process and believes it will regain its former prestige someday.

It’s part of our nature to connect with others, to share experiences rather than going it alone… I have faith that the magic of live theater will endure.

Concerning Dune 3, Villeneuve stated that he might be involved with it but chose not to provide further details. In September, he mentioned on Vanity Fair’s Little Gold Men podcast that the trilogy film was in the scriptwriting phase, and it would mark his final Dune movie project.

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2024-12-01 20:21

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