Every filmmaker has their own unique vibe that usually shines through in any movie they make, and that’s what helps them build a loyal fan base of cinephiles. Denis Villeneuve is no exception, especially when it comes to sci-fi, a genre he really nails as a director.
It turns out that this wasn’t always the case. Even before he had the opportunity to direct Blade Runner 2049, Villeneuve was hesitant about tackling a more technological or dystopian storyline. He recently mentioned that the film was a risky move for him in the film industry.
Denis Villeneuve Reveals Insecurity About Directing Big Sci-Fi Movies Like Blade Runner 2049
After the tremendous success of the Dune saga, Denis Villeneuve has firmly established himself as a top science fiction director. Before that, he was already a giant in the industry, but still a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by the wider audience. The truth is, he needed a major project to make that happen.
Blade Runner 2049 is a 2017 film that was highly acclaimed by critics, receiving a score of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie serves as a sequel to Ridley Scott‘s 1982 classic. However, due to the immense legacy of the original film, Villeneuve felt insecure about taking on the project.
At a recent event at the BFI London Film Festival, he had the opportunity to discuss this, along with his career in general. The director admitted that in the past, he was a bit afraid of risking everything he had built up. Regarding Blade Runner 2049, he joked: (via The Hollywood Reporter)
In the past, I refused a few sci-fi films, big films, because I was not greedy… But after Sicario I felt that I had the muscles to be able to carry a project like [Blade Runner 2049]. I said, ‘OK, if I do one big sci-fi movie, and I risk everything, that’s beautiful. To make a sequel to my favorite film is a beautiful way to end my career. I thought it was very romantic.’
Initially, the sequel was supposed to be directed by Scott himself, but Villeneuve received a call that changed everything. He had just wrapped up Sicario when he was essentially summoned for the project. Apparently, it was taking a while to get off the ground:
Then, when I was doing Sicario, I got a call. Ridley is the most prolific, over-busy director. And when I direct one movie, Ridley does three things. I think that Harrison Ford was tired of waiting.
The most interesting part is that his insecurity had been lingering since 2013, when he released Prisoners. He admitted that he was also afraid his reputation and identity would be at risk, worried that he might get swept away by the industry’s demands and compromise his creative vision.
In the end, he revealed that he had a fantastic experience with the film, largely because he felt respected throughout the entire project. There, he demonstrated that he could handle directing something big with a significant budget to bring to life.
Denis Villeneuve Is Close To Being The Best Sci-Fi Director Of The Century
While elevating Villeneuve to a high status is a personal judgment for each viewer, it’s undeniable that he has established himself as a remarkable filmmaker in the sci-fi genre following his recent films. At least, according to some critics, he has been recognized as the greatest.
Dune and Dune: Part Two were two films that resonated with audiences and were also discussed at the event in London. Villeneuve then seized the opportunity to express that the process of world-building is quite challenging:
World building is very demanding. There’s always a day [on set] where I think that it’s the worst day of my life. It’s like trying to play the instrument, and it’s out of tune. Your brain is out of tune. But I’ve learned… that you can always reshoot!
A BBC article described him as a professional who is very close to becoming a master of the art in this particular genre, especially after Villeneuve mentioned that each of his films represents a step up in size and difficulty.
He is consistently highly praised, and for good reason. It seems he genuinely aims to surpass himself with each new project. Actor David Dastmalchian, who has worked with him on more than one project, even said that the filmmaker “is a genius… he’s our generation’s Stanley Kubrick.“
In the article, journalist and film critic Helen O’Hara went so far as to say that even though Blade Runner 2049 wasn’t a massive commercial success, having the studios’ confidence to create something as ambitious as Dune in 2021 indicates that Villeneuve is a valuable director who deserves ongoing support.
