The Entertainment Factor: Denis Villeneuve: Movies, TV Shows, Music and Video Games

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Thursday, June 26, 2025

Denis Villeneuve to Direct Next James Bond Film

Four-time Oscar nominated "Sicario", "Arrival" and "Dune" filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has signed on to direct the next James Bond film for Amazon MGM Studios. The studio made the official announcement on Wednesday. The film will be produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman, with Tanya Lapointe on board as executive producer.

Villeneuve said the following in a statement: "Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust".

Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, added: "We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond's next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself. From Blade Runner 2049 to Arrival to the Dune films, he has delivered compelling worlds, dynamic visuals, complex characters, and—most importantly—the immersive storytelling that global audiences yearn to experience in theaters. James Bond is in the hands of one of today’s greatest filmmakers and we cannot wait to get started on 007's next adventure."

Pascal and Heyman also said: "Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it's ours, too. We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker."

Other high-profile directors in the running for the job included Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Jonathan Nolan and Paul King. There were even reports that considered Alfonso Cuaron a shoo-in for the job. The Bond directing gig attracted a lot of attention ever since Amazon MGM acquired full creative control of the franchise in February in a historic deal with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson that resulted in a new joint venture.

Amazon MGM Studios gained distribution rights to Bond with the acquisition of MGM Studios for $8.5 billion in 2022, and there have been no new projects in the franchise since Daniel Craig ended his run with "No Time to Die" in the fall of 2021. Presumably, that had something to do with creative differences with the franchise's previous owners.

It will be interesting to see how Villeneuve will fit the new James Bond movie into his busy schedule, which includes a challenging third and final "Dune" film for Warner Bros and Legendary Entertainment. The sci-fi epic will begin filming this summer and will open in theaters on December 16, 2026. He is also linked to other projects in development including "Cleopatra", a historical epic starring Zendaya that Sony considers their "Gone with the Wind"; an adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's classic sci-fi novel "Rendezvous with Rama"; and "Nuclear War: A Scenario", an adaptation of the non-fiction book by Annie Jacobsen.

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Tuesday, May 14, 2024

DVD, Blu-ray & 4K: DUNE PART TWO and DUNE: 2-MOVIE COLLECTION

New on DVD, Blu-ray & 4K: DUNE - PART TWO (2024)

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Product Description: Dune: Part Two: Explores the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

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Saturday, March 2, 2024

DUNE: PART TWO (2024) - Trailers, Clips, Featurettes, Images and Posters

Dune Part Two Movie Trailers Clips Featurettes Images Posters

"Dune: Part Two" is a sci-fi epic directed by Denis Villeneuve from a script he co-wrote alongside Jon Spaihts. The cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux and Souheila Yacoub. The film opened in theaters on March 1, 2024.

Find out more about the movie after the jump.

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Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Léa Seydoux To Play Lady Margot in DUNE: PART TWO

Léa Seydoux ("Blue Is the Warmest Colour", "No Time to Die") is in negotiations to star in Warner Bros and Legendary's "Dune: Part Two". The second film will be once again directed by Denis Villeneuve, who will also produce, and co-write alongside Jon Spaihts.

The all-star ensemble includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgard, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista and Josh Brolin, who will reprise their roles. New additions include Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV, Florence Pugh as the Emperor's daughter, Princess Irulan, and Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

If the deal goes through, Seydoux would play Lady Margot, a long-standing servant of the Bene Gesserit and wife of Count Hasimir Fenring. Although her role in the plot should have started in Part One, it's reasonable to assume she will play an important part in the new installment.

Seydoux recently starred in David Cronenberg's "Crimes of the Future", and Mia Hansen Love's "One Fine Morning".

"Dune: Part Two" will open in theaters on October 20, 2023.

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Friday, May 13, 2022

Christopher Walken Joins DUNE PART TWO as Emperor Shaddam IV

Christopher Walken is the latest addition to the cast of Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic "Dune". Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts are once again writing the script.

Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem, among others, are returning for the second installment.

The second chapter of the epic saga will continue where "Part One" left off, with Paul Atreides (Chalamet) fighting alongside the Fremen to free the desert planet of Arrakis from the grips of House Harkonnen.

Walken will play Emperor Shaddam IV, the ruler of the known universe who ordered the Atreides family to Arrakis in order to cause their downfall. The character did not appear in "Dune: Part One", but will play an important role in the final chapter. Florence Pugh has also joined the cast as Princess Irulan, the Emperor's daughter. Austin Butler recently signed on to play Rautha Harkonnen, the presumptive heir to the Harkonnen dynasty, who is being groomed to rule Arrakis.

Filming will begin this summer in Budapest. "Dune: Part Two" will open in theaters on October 20, 2023.

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Friday, March 11, 2022

ELVIS Star Austin Butler in Talks to Play Feyd-Rautha in DUNE PART 2

Austin Butler ("Elvis", "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood") is in talks to join the cast of Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part 2". Villeneuve will return to co-write, direct and produce the sequel.

Butler will play the villainous Feyd-Rautha, the sadistic nephew of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and the heir to the Harkonnen empire. According to sources, the actor is in the "very early stages" of the casting process. The role was previously played by Sting in David Lynch's 1984 cult classic adaptation.

Florence Pugh is in final negotiations to join the cast as Princess Irulan. The film's ensemble cast also includes Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya and Javier Bardem.

Villeneuve recently said the following about "Dune: Part 2":

Production is expected to begin this summer, and the release date has been scheeduled for October 20, 2023.

Butler can next be seen in Baz Luhrmann's musical biopic "Elvis", which will premiere at Cannes ahead of its June 24th theatrical release. He is also set to star in the Apple TV+ limited series "Masters of Air".

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Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Florence Pugh to Star as Princess Irulan in DUNE PART 2

Oscar-nominated actress Florence Pugh ("Little Women", "Black Widow") is in talks to join the cast of "Dune: Part 2". The first film's helmer Denis Villeneuve will return to direct.

If the deal goes through, Pugh will star as Princess Irulan, the eldest daughter to Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. The sequel will begin production this summer, and it's set to open in theaters on October 20, 2023. The script is still being written.

Most of the first film's cast is set to return: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya and Javier Bardem.

The project is also casting three new major parts, including Emperor Shaddam IV, the ruler who sends the Atreides family to Arrakis, and Feyd-Rautha, the cunning nephew of the baron who heads House Harkonnen.

Warner Bros and Legendary's "Dune: Part 1" was released day-and-date on HBO Max, but still managed to gross $400 million worldwide ($108 million domestically) and received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

Pugh will also star in Christopher Nolan's epic biopic "Oppenheimer" alongside Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Matt Damon. She is also set to appear in Olivia Wilde's "Don't Worry Darling" and Sebastian Lelio's Netflix flick "The Wonder".

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Tuesday, January 11, 2022

DVD & Blu-ray: DUNE (2021) Starring Timothee Chalamet & Rebecca Ferguson

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Product Description: A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

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Friday, October 22, 2021

DUNE (2021) - Trailers, Featurettes, Images and Posters

"Dune" (or "Dune: Part One") is a sci-fi film directed by Denis Villeneuve ("Arrival", "Blade Runner 2049") from a script by Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts ("Prometheus") and Eric Roth ("Munich", "The Insider") based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. The film covers the first half of the novel.

The cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

The film premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, and was released in the U.S. on October 22, 2021, simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. The film was released internationally on September 15, 2021.

Find out more about the movie after the jump.

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Friday, October 23, 2020

Jake Gyllenhaal to Star in HBO Limited Series THE SON Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Jake Gyllenhaal has signed on to star in and executive produce the HBO limited series "The Son". "Westworld" creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy will executive produce and serve as co-showrunners.

The story is described as a story of vengeance set in Oslo, where there's a brutal hierarchy of corruption.

Denis Villeneuve ("Dune", "Sicario") will direct and executive produce. The miniseries is based on a novel by Jo Nesbo that has sold millions of copies worldwide, and it was originally developed by Gyllenhaal and Villeneuve as a feature film.

HBO Programming executive VP Francesca Orsi said the following about the project:

This will be the first regular television role of Gyllenhaal's career. His next projects includes the English language adaptation of the Danish film "The Guilty" and Ubisoft video game adaptation "The Division" at Netflix.

Villeneuve is also attached to direct the pilot of the upcoming HBO Max series "Dune: The Sisterhood".

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Sunday, February 3, 2019

Javier Bardem Joins Denis Villeneuve's DUNE

Javier Bardem is in talks to join the already impressive cast of the upcoming adaptation of Frank Herbert's "Dune". Directed by Denis Villeneuve ("Blade Runner 2049", "Arrival"), the film has gathered an impressive A-list ensemble that already includes Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista and Charlotte Rampling, while Oscar Isaac and Zendaya are in negotiations.

The story follows young Paul Atreides (Chalamet) and his family as they battle for control of the harsh desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, which is at the center of galactic intrigue because it's the only source of the "spice melange", a highly valuable drug that confers psychic abilities, can extend a human life, and is vital for space travel. Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV grants the Atreides family control of the spice harvesting operations, but a betrayal orchestrated by a powerful rival family, the House Harkonnen, forces Paul to become the leader of a rebellion to restore his family's reign.

Bardem is set to star as Stilgar, the leader of a tribe that will help Paul mount the rebellion against the Harkonnen. Isaac and Ferguson will co-star as Paul's parents. Skarsgard is on board to play the villain, Baron Harkonnen, Bautista will star as his newphew, and Rampling will play Gaius Helen Mohiam, Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit, a religious order with great political and social influence in Herbert's universe. If negotiations end well, Zendaya will join the cast as Chani, the love interest for Timothee Chalamet's Paul.

Villeneuve co-wrote the script alongside Oscar-winner Eric Roth ("A Star Is Born") and Jon Spaihts ("Prometheus"). Rights for the novel were acquired by Legendary in 2016, to be used for both film and TV properties. Kevin J. Anderson, the sci-fi author who penned spin-off novels for "Star Wars", "StarCraft", and "The X-Files", and with Brian Herbert is the co-author of the "Dune" prequel series, will serve as a creative consultant on the project.

Filming is expected to begin this spring in Budapest and Jordan.

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Thursday, January 31, 2019

Oscar Isaac in Talks to Join Timothee Chalamet in DUNE Movie

Oscar Isaac is in talks to join the cast of the upcoming "Dune" adaptation from "Arrival" and "Blade Runner 2049" filmmaker Denis Villeneuve. The film's script is being written by Villeneuve, Eric Roth ("A Star Is Born") and Jon Spaihts ("Prometheus").

"Dune" is a science fiction saga by Frank Herbert that consists of six novels. The first book is the best-selling sci-fi novel of all time and was previously adapted by David Lynch in a 1984 film starring Kyle MacLachlan that ended up being a box-office flop and was panned by critics. Lynch withdrew his name from the film due to excessive studio interference.

Another 2000 three-part television adaptation of the original novel was slightly more popular and it was followed by another miniseries in 2003 that was based on the second and third books in the series. Surrealist director Alejandro Jodorowsky also attempted to bring the story to the big screen in the 1970s, and that version was supposed to star Orson Welles and Salvador Dali. The unsuccessful effort was chronicled in the 2014 documentary "Jodorowsky's Dune".

The story follows young Paul Atreides (Chalamet) and his family as they battle for control of the harsh desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, which is at the center of galactic intrigue because it's the only source of the "spice melange", a highly valuable drug that confers psychic abilities, can extend a human life, and is vital for space travel. Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV grants the Atreides family control of the spice harvesting operations, but a betrayal orchestrated by a powerful rival family, the House Harkonnen, forces Paul to become the leader of a rebellion to restore his family's reign.

Isaac has been cast as Duke Leto Atreides, Paul's father. Rebecca Ferguson has been cast as Paul's mother, Lady Jessica, and Stellan Skarsgard was recently cast as Baron Harkonnen. Dave Bautista, who also appeared in Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049", is also on board for an unknown role.

The novel explores themes of politics, religion, and man's relationship with nature, and it will interesting to see how Herbert's cerebral writing can be convincingly adapted into a box-office hit. Villeneuve's "Blade Runner 2049", for example, was a similar cerebral blockbuster, and it wasn't a huge hit.

Legendary acquired film and TV rights to Herbert's famous novel in 2016.

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Wednesday, January 17, 2018

New on DVD and Blu-ray: BLADE RUNNER 2049

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Product Description: Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a longburied secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

Find out more about this DVD/Blu-ray release after the jump.

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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

BLADE RUNNER 2049 Trailers, Clips, Featurettes, Images and Posters

Directed by Denis Villeneuve ("Arrival"), the neo-noir sci-fi "Blade Runner 2049" is a sequel to the 1982 classic directed by Ridley Scott based on Philip K. Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?".

The film is set 30 years after the events of the original film and it stars Ryan Gosling as K, a young blade runner who discovers a long-buried secret connected to former blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) that could spark a war between replicants and humans.

The film also stars Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista, Robin Wright, Jared Leto, Sylvia Hoeks, Mackenzie Davis and Edward James Olmos.

"Blade Runner 2049" opened in theaters on October 6, 2017 and received stellar reviews from critics, who considered it a worthy continuation of a timeless classic. The film failed to make a big impression at the box-office, opening with $32.7 million against a $150 million budget. Initially it was expected to gross around $50 million. While its 163 minute running time could have been a factor in this outcome, it should also be mentioned that the original film wasn't a huge hit when it came out in 1982, either, and its reliance on nostalgia and fanbase might have been misplaced, since cyberpunk is probably not as popular as Stephen King, or "Star Wars".

Find out more about the movie after the jump.

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Sunday, February 26, 2017

Movie Review: ARRIVAL (2016) Starring Amy Adams

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma, Mark O'Brien
Runtime: 116 min
Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language
Purchasing Links: DVD, Blu-ray

Read the review after the jump.

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Saturday, January 14, 2017

2017 Directors Guild Awards Nominations Announced

The last of the major guilds, the Directors Guild of America, has announced its nominations for the 69th Annual DGA Awards. While many of the nominees will surprise no one, here's one that actually was kind of surprising. Tim Miller's work on "Deadpool" has been rewarded with a nod for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film. This makes the comic book adaptation an unexpected contender in the Oscars race, especially since it also has a PGA nomination under its belt.

Nate Parker was nominated for his directorial debut "The Birth of a Nation", which comes to sweeten the blow that the film received after controversy involving Parker's rape charge from his college days. However, this is the only nomination that Parker has received in this entire awards season, so the DGA nod comes as little consolation for a film that was once seen as a major contender and ended up a box-office failure.

Another surprise is that Garth Davis pulled off a double-nomination for his work on the true story drama "Lion". He was nominated both for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film and First-Time Feature Film. Now, "Lion" is a perfectly okay film, but the attention it's been getting this awards season is crazy. Plus, nominating Davis means that some huge players were left off the list: Martin Scorsese for "Silence", Denzel Washington for "Fences", Clint Eastwood for "Sully" and Mel Gibson for "Hacksaw Ridge". Well, at least I'm happy to see Villeneuve made the list after being snubbed last year for "Sicario".

The winners of the 2017 Directors Guild Awards will be revealed on February 4th.

Check out the complete list of DGA film nominations after the jump.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

BLADE RUNNER 2049 Teaser Trailer

We finally have the first official trailer for Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi sequel "Blade Runner 2049". While light on plot, which is something to be expected in a teaser trailer, it's just oozing atmosphere.

According to the official synopsis, the film is set thirty years after the events of the original "Blade Runner", and it focuses on LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), who discovers a long-buried secret that threatens to plunge the already crumbling society into chaos. K's quest teams him up with Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who's gone missing for the past thirty years.

The film also stars Mackenzie Davis, Jared Leto, Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista, Carla Juri, Barkhad Abdi, Lennie James and Robin Wright.

"Blade Runner 2049" will be released in theaters on October 6, 2017.

Watch the trailer after the jump.

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Friday, November 11, 2016

ARRIVAL Final Trailer, Clips, Featurettes, Images and Posters

arrival-2016-final-trailer-clips-featurettes-images-posters

"Arrival" is a new film from director Denis Villeneuve ("Prisoners", "Sicario") and according to the critics, it absolutely revolutionizes the sci-fi genre. Amy Adams stars as an expert linguist who is recruited to lead an elite team tasked with finding a way to communicate with an alien species after mysterious spacecraft land on our planet. The cast also features Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg and Tzi Ma.

"Arrival" is now in theaters.

Check out the trailer, clips, featurettes, images and posters after the jump.

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Friday, August 19, 2016

Jared Leto Joins BLADE RUNNER Sequel

The casting for the upcoming "Blade Runner" sequel is now officially over, and the final addition to the cast is Academy Award winner Jared Leto, who is just coming off his turn as The Joker in the box-office hit "Suicide Squad". The role is said to be an important one, and a "memorable, never before seen character".

The cast already includes Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Dave Bautista and Barkhad Abdi.

The sequel is directed by Denis Villeneuve ("Prisoners", "Sicario") and executive produced by Ridley Scott, who directed the first "Blade Runner". The script has been written by the original film's scribe Hampton Fancher and Michael Green ("American Gods").

"Blade Runner 2" is set for release on October 6th, 2017.

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Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Trailer, Images and Posters for ARRIVAL Starring Amy Adams

arrival-movie-trailer-images-and-posters

The sci-fi film "Arrival" looks to something entirely different from the usual alien invasion flick. Directed by Denis Villeneuve ("Prisoners", "Sicario"), the film's story involves the mysterious arrival of 12 alien spacecraft and the efforts of an elite team led by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) to determine whether the visitors come in peace or are a threat. Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg and Tzi Ma co-star.

"Arrival" will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and Venice Film Festival before being released in theaters on November 11th.

Check out the trailer, images and posters after the jump.

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