Dune: Part Twostar Josh Brolin implores the Oscars to recognize Denis Villeneuve for the sequel after he was snubbed for the first movie. Based on the book by Frank Herbert, Villeneuve’s firstDunemovie was released in 2021. It was well-received and won six Oscars, including for Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Visual Effects, but Villeneuve himself wasn’t nominated for Best Director.Dune: Part Twowas critically acclaimedand a major box office success following its release earlier this year, but it remains unclear how it will perform at the upcoming Academy Awards.
In his new memoir,From Under The Truck(viaVariety), Brolin, who plays Gurney Halleck in the franchise and is an Oscar nominee himself for his supporting performance in 2008’sMilk, makes the bold statement that he’ll “quit acting” if the filmmaker isn’t recognized forDune: Part Two.The actor celebrates the sequel as an improvement over the originaland calls Villeneuve “one of our master filmmakers.” Check out the full excerpt from Brolin’s book below:
“If he doesn’t get nominated this year, I’ll quit acting. It was a better movie than the first one. When I watched it, it felt like my brain was broken open. It’s masterful, and Denis is one of our master filmmakers. If the Academy Awards have any meaning whatsoever, they’ll recognize him.”
What Dune: Part Two’s Reception Means For Its Oscar Chances
Why The Franchise Might Not Win Any Major Awards (Yet)
Dune: Part Twois one of the rare sequels that has actuallybeen more warmly received than the original.Dune’s reviews in 2021were positive, but the film also had the challenging job of setting up the world and all the characters, while the sequel benefits from being able to dive back into the epic sci-fi grandeur while having relatively little setup, in addition to adding well-regarded actors including Florence Pugh and Austin Butler, both of whom are Oscar nominees. Below, see a breakdown of howDune: Part Twohas been an improvement over the original both critically and commercially:
83%
90%
$407 million
92%
95%
$714 million
The success and quality of the film means thatVilleneuve seems very likely to be nominated this time around. It’s far less certain, however, that he’ll win. Traditionally, the Oscars have been hesitant to award second installments in a trilogy, as was seen withThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. WithDune: Part Threeconfirmedto be on the horizon, it’s possible that Academy voters will want to wait to recognize the franchise until Villeneuve’s grand conclusion. TheDunefranchise is also hard sci-fi, a genre that hasn’t historically done well at the Oscars.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingwas nominated for 11 [Oscars] and won 11…
For reference, 2002’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towerswas nominated for six Oscars, winning for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects. Additionally, its predecessorThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringwas nominated for 13 Oscars, winning four, while the sequelThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingwas nominated for 11 and won 11, including Best Picture and Best Director.The Two Towerswasthe only installment for which Peter Jackson was not nominated as Best Director.
The 2025 Best Director Competition Is Fierce
Denis Villeneuve’s Prospects Aren’t Entirely Certain
While Denis Villeneuve is a frontrunner for a Best Director nomination,it is not a guarantee that he will get one. In fact,Variety’s chart of predictions for the five Best Director slots has him as the seventh most likely nominee, behind Ridley Scott (Gladiator II), Jon M. Chu (Wicked), Sean Baker (Anora), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Edward Berger (Conclave), and Brady Corbet (The Brutalist).
The remaining directors in their Top 10 predictions are James Mangold (A Complete Unknown), Steve McQueen (Blitz), and Walter Salles (I’m Still Here).
Those predictions also ignore the female directors of movies with major Oscar buzz, a roster that includes the brash Coralie Fargeat body horror movieThe Substance, the Nicole Kidman-led Halina Reijnerotic thrillerBabygirl, and the Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio dramaIn the Summers.Dune: Part Two’s chances could also be diminished by it being released early in the year, as recency bias can skew Oscar nominations toward movies released in November and December.
Our Take On Brolin’s Comments About Villeneuve & Dune: Part Two
The Dune Sequel Cemented Villeneuve’s Place In Hollywood
Brolin probably is not being serious about quitting acting should Villeneuve not be nominated, especially considering the fact that the prolific actor is already currently working on two upcoming projects, namely Edgar Wright’s Stephen King adaptationThe Running Manand Zach Cregger’sBarbarianfollow-upWeapons. Thankfully, this likely won’t be put to the test. It would be somewhat surprising if Villeneuve wasn’t at least nominated, asDune: Part Twohas essentially cemented him as a Christopher Nolan-level Hollywood presence.
Every Denis Villeneuve Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
The renowned filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has made several of the greatest films of the 21st century, including Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune 2.
Every new Villeneuve movie from this point forward will likely be eventized in a similar way that new Nolan movies are, though perhaps to a lesser degree. While it remains a question mark whetherDune: Part Twowill any major awards, Villeneuve has certainly proven himself worthy of a nomination and a win after years of producing well-regarded titles, includinga run of eight Certified Fresh movies in a rowthat began with 2010’sIncendiesand includesPrisoners,Sicario,Arrival, and thelegacy sequelBlade Runner 2049.
Dune: Part Two
Cast
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family’s devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe’s future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
