Skip to main content

Dune 2 director Denis Villeneuve thought Blade Runner 2049 might ‘end’ his career

Denis Villeneuve stands with Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling on the set of Blade Runner 2049.
Warner Bros. Pictures

Dune isn’t the first iconic sci-fi property that director Denis Villeneuve has tackled. In 2015, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker actually accepted the unenviable task of directing a sequel to one of the most beloved sci-fi movies of all time, Ridley Scott‘s 1982 classic Blade Runner. The resulting film, 2017’s Blade Runner 2049, was a hit with critics, but infamously underperformed at the box office. Despite that fact, Villeneuve received praise at the time of the sequel’s release for even having the guts to take on a project as daunting as a Blade Runner sequel.

It was a choice even Villeneuve sees as one of the “most risky” he’s made throughout his career. The filmmaker revealed as much during a recent career retrospective conversation at this year’s London Film Festival. While speaking with the panel’s moderator, Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein, Villeneuve further reflected on Blade Runner 2049 and his decision to direct it.

Recommended Videos

“Doing the sequel of one of the great Ridley Scott masterpieces was probably the worst idea I’ve had,” Villeneuve jokingly noted. The director went on to remark that he thought Blade Runner 2049 had the potential to bring his career to a swift close, but he didn’t let that stop him from trying to follow in Scott’s footsteps. Ultimately, Villeneuve says he figured “to make a sequel to my favorite film is a beautiful way to end my career,” adding, “I thought it was very romantic.”

Ryan Gosling stands in a decrepit casino room in Blade Runner 2049.
Warner Bros. Pictures

Blade Runner 2049 did not, of course, end Villeneuve’s career. On the contrary, his two most recent films, 2021’s Dune: Part One and this year’s Dune: Part Two, have made him one of the most celebrated directors working today. They’ve greatly elevated his profile within Hollywood and have brought more attention to his increasingly impressive filmography. By comparison, Blade Runner 2049 didn’t receive nearly as much mainstream success as Villeneuve’s Dune films. It has maintained its own, passionate fanbase over the years, though, and respect for it has only grown in the time since its 2017 release.

In that sense, the Blade Runner sequel isn’t all that dissimilar from Dune: Part One or Part Two. Much like he did with those two movies, Villeneuve proved with 2049 that he was capable of not just taking on immensely daunting blockbuster projects but also handling them better than most of his contemporaries could. Four years later, he proved that again — and to even greater success — when he released the first half of his now-acclaimed Dune adaptation.

Alex Welch
Alex is a writer and critic who has been writing about and reviewing movies and TV at Digital Trends since 2022. He was…
5 sci-fi movies on Hulu that are perfect to watch in the summer
Timothee Chalamet holding up a dagger in "Dune."

Hulu has many terrific films for audiences to stream this summer with their family and friends. This is especially true for its selection of science-fiction movies.

From explosive, cinematic adventures like Aliens to profound, philosophical dramas like Ex Machina, there are many beloved and classic sci-fi pictures to keep fans of the genre occupied this season. So while they're all still on the site, subscribers should check out these five sci-fi masterpieces on Hulu this summer.
Akira (1988)

Read more
5 great Hulu movies to stream this Election Day
Two bloody men are tied up and sit down while looking in the distance.

Today is an important day in the United States. It's Election Day. Many local, state, and federal elections will be held throughout the country, with the presidential election drawing the most attention. After exercising your right to vote, perhaps you want to wind down and stream a movie instead of watching political coverage.

That's where Hulu comes in handy. Hulu is a streaming service teeming with diverse content from Disney, FX, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures. Most of the content caters to adults, but there are also several kids and family sections to peruse for movie night. Try watching one of these movies on Hulu, including a sensational Predator installment, a charming rom-com, and a 1990s action classic.

Read more
5 great Netflix TV shows to stream on Election Day
Gabriel Basso points a gun down.

Election Day is here, and there's really only one escape from all of the network coverage about who will be the next president. Just turn on Netflix and let your mind relax with a handful of the streamer's most binge-worthy series.

Everyone has their own favorite shows, but we've put together a list of the five great Netflix TV shows that you should stream this Election Day. And all five of them are among the biggest hits in the history of the streamer.

Read more