Denis Villeneuve and Legendary on Thursday confirmed that they are actively working on Dune 3 after a huge success with the Dune: Part Two starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. As of writing this article, the movie has grossed over $630 million at the global box office. But before Dune 2 wrapping its theatrical run, there is another big project Villeneuve and Legendary are working on that is a bit similar to What Christopher Nolan did in 2023.
Denis Villeneuve Is In Talks to Direct the Adaptation of Nuclear War: A Scenario
Denis Villeneuve. Image Credit: Screengrab from Film at Lincoln Center/YouTube
Following Christopher Nolan’s last year blockbuster Oppenheimer‘s theme,Dune director Denis Villeneuve is getting ready for his next film with Legendary Pictures on a feature adaptation of Annie Jacobsen’s nonfiction bestseller Nuclear War: A Scenario. Deadline was first to report the news about Nuclear War: A Scenario.
Nuclear War: A Scenario was released earlier this year, this year – you can check out the synopsis below:
“Every generation, a journalist has looked deep into the heart of the nuclear military establishment: the technologies, the safeguards, the plans, and the risks. These investigations are vital to how we understand the world we really live in—where one nuclear missile will beget one in return, and where the choreography of the world’s end requires massive decisions made on seconds’ notice with information that is only as good as the intelligence we have.
Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario explores this ticking-clock scenario, based on dozens of exclusive new interviews with military and civilian experts who have built the weapons, have been privy to the response plans, and have been responsible for those decisions should they have needed to be made. Nuclear War: A Scenario examines the handful of minutes after a nuclear missile launch. It is essential reading and unlike any other book in its depth and urgency.”
So, it’s a high possibility that the movie will somehow take Oppenheimer’s theme, which was focused on the creation of the atomic bomb and it became an instant success, taking home the Best Picture Oscar award.
Currently, Nolan and Villeneuve are compared to each other by cinephiles for their distinctive works. Nolan, who went to receive his first Academy Award for his movie, is known for his thought-provoking style of making movies.
And, Villeneuve is being considered by fans as the newest to this genre who gives some food for thought with his movies. So, it will be interesting to see how Villeneuve goes with his next movie following Dune 3.
Denis Villeneuve Told That He Has Four Projects In Hand Currently
Timothée Chalamet in Dune: Part Two (2024). Image Credit: Warner Media
Denis Villeneuve is a busy man today. Post Dune: Part Two success, he has right away started his work on the next installment in the sci-fi franchise. He also told The Hollywood Reporter that he has got four projects right now and one of them is a secret one.
“I have four projects on the table, currently,” Villeneuve told THR.
“One of them is a secret project that I cannot talk about right now, but that needs to see the light of day quite quickly. So it would be a good idea to do something in between projects, before tackling “Dune Messiah” and “Cleopatra.” All these projects are still being written, so we’ll see where they go, but I have no control over that.“
Villeneuve further revealed to Cine21:
“I’m working on four different screenplays — I know that Dune: Messiah will be one of them, I don’t know if it will be the next or the second next. My job was to try to keep the spirit of Frank Herbert alive as much as possible — the whole meaning of Dune becomes clear with Dune: Messiah.“
Dune 2 has become the highest-grossing film of 2024. Released in 2021, the original Dune grossed $402 million globally. Villeneuve has proved himself as one compelling storyteller and with his movies, he also showed what a maestro he is in filmmaking.
Dune: Part Two is still playing in theaters.
