Steven Spielberg is returning to the science-fiction genre with this summer’s “Disclosure Day,” and he’s starting his press tour by singling out another sci-fi franchise for praise. Gracing the cover of Empire magazine, Spielberg declared Denis Villeneuve‘s “Dune” films some of his favorite sci-fi movies ever made. Villeneuve has “Dune: Part Three” (based on Frank Herbert’s “Dune Messiah”) releasing later this year.
“Recently, I’ve loved the ‘Dune’ movies. They are among my favorite science-fiction movies, not just recently, but of all time. Especially the second film,” Speilberg said. “I think [Part Two] is the best movie Denis has ever made. I cannot wait to see the third one. I’m sure he’ll show it to me early. I’m such a fan of his.”
The filmmaker continued, “I love the [Dune] books, and I just think his tribute to the books is like Guillermo [del Toro]’s tribute to Mary Shelley with Frankenstein: he honored Mary Shelley as I think Denis honored Frank Herbert.”
Spielberg has not kept his “Dune” love a secret. During a Q&A with Villeneuve at the Directors Guild of America shortly after “Dune: Part Two’s” theatrical release, Spielberg called the sequel “one of the most brilliant science-fiction films I’ve ever seen.”
“Let me start by saying there are filmmakers who are the builders of worlds,” Spielberg told Villeneuve at the time. “It’s not a long list and we know who a lot of them are. Starting with [Georges] Méliès and Disney and Kubrick, George Lucas. Ray Harryhausen I include in that list. Fellini built his own worlds. Tim Burton. Obviously Wes Anderson, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Guillermo del Toro. The list goes on but it’s not that long of a list, and I deeply, fervently believe that you are one of its newest members…And that scene surfing the sandworms is one of the greatest things I have ever seen. Ever!
Spielberg was one of many top directors who championed “Dune: Part Two” upon its release. Christopher Nolan moderated an FYC conversation with Villeneuve at the time and said: “I think it’s a miraculous job of adaptation, of taking that second half and making an incredible conclusion of the story… Most adaptations, it’s a process of condensing things and simplifying things. My feeling in watching both films, in particular the second film, is that this was an act of exploring a little further and burrowing into the complications and embracing those and the world building beyond even what’s in the book.”
Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” opens in theaters June 12, while Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Three” arrives Dec. 18.
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From Variety US