With “Blade Runner 2049” and definitely “Dune,” Denis Villeneuve has cemented himself in the minds of many as a master filmmaker when it comes to big screen spectacle. That is a description that has also been given to director Christopher Nolan. So, you have to imagine that since both men seem to be on similar filmmaking wavelengths, they probably enjoy each other’s work. Well, we already know Villeneuve is a big fan of Nolan. And in a new episode of The Director’s Cut podcast from the Directors Guild of America, both men sat down together, with Nolan raving about Villeneuve’s work.
Before the discussion turned into Nolan giving praised to Villeneuve, the “Dune” filmmaker first explained just how expansive his most recent film was during production. This required Villeneuve to change how he typically works on set.
“For the first time of my life I decided to work with more than one unit because otherwise, I would not be here tonight because it was too much work to do in too little time,” he explained. “I learned how to direct multiple units. It’s not the best way to work, I love to work with one camera, one tripod, but I didn’t have the choice, I had to do it this way.”
Villeneuve also gave a shout-out to the person he thinks taught him the most about VFX—Roger Deakins, who worked as cinematographer on “Blade Runner 2049.”
“It’s all about light at the end of the day. I had a master class on how to light a shot doing ‘Blade Runner’ with Roger Deakins,” Villeneuve said. “I spent a year listening to him on every shot and that helped me tremendously to direct the team here.”
READ MORE: ‘Dune’: Denis Villeneuve Talks Dreams, Sequels & How ‘Star Wars’ Left Him [Interview]
However, as great as ‘2049’ was, the filmmaker revealed that he believes the disappointing box office of his 2017 film led to Warner Bros. being a bit gunshy when it came to greenlighting both halves of “Dune” right away, which Villeneuve was hoping to shoot back-to-back.
“I should say, you’re only as good as your last movie, and I think that ‘Blade Runner’ wasn’t a major box office success, so I think they were a bit cold at the idea of investing in two movies right away. I think that’s the truth. That’s how I understood [it],” he said.
This comment led to Nolan interjecting with his own compliment of Villeneuve’s filmmaking.
“I think that was a negotiating tactic on the studio’s part,” Nolan countered, “Because I think ‘Blade Runner’ was a very successful film and an incredible piece of work.”
Later on, when the Q&A was wrapping up, Nolan had some high and heavy praise for what Villeneuve accomplished with “Dune.”
LISTEN: ‘Dune’: Denis Villeneuve’s Epic Raises The Bar For Sci-Fi Filmmaking [The Playlist Podcast]
“I think this film is going to introduce a whole new generation of fans to ‘Dune,’ who haven’t seen/read it and perhaps may come read the book now,” Nolan said. “I think it’s an extraordinary piece of work. I’ve had the luxury of seeing it a couple of times now. Each time I watch it, I discover new things, new details, and I think the way in which it is made is absolutely for the big screen, it’s a real pleasure and it’s a real gift to film fans everywhere.”
Obviously, critics and fans seem to agree with Nolan, as “Dune” has received solid reviews, and even though the film debuted day-and-date in theaters and on HBO Max, people still came out in force to watch the feature on the big screen. Weekend estimates point to “Dune” earning $40.1 million domestically and over $220 million globally since its release, making it seem like a ‘Part 2’ greenlight should be coming soon.
Listen to the full conversation below: