“Dune” director reveals his biggest concern for the future of cinema
Denis Villenueve was not happy when he was first revealed Dune was sent to HBO Max the same day it hit theaters, with the filmmaker lambasting Warner Bros. for a move that could have killed his potential two-part sci-fi saga even before the first chapter was released.
It turned out that he didn’t really have to worry, with Second part officially announced just days after the arrival of the first half, Dune now approaching a box office of $ 400 million. This makes it the second highest grossing hybrid version of the year behind compatriot WB. Godzilla vs. Kong, but that doesn’t mean Villenueve’s fears are over.
During a roundtable interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar nominee revealed that his biggest concern for the future of cinema was not the streaming itself, but rather the shortened window between the release of the films. on the big screen and available on demand.
“For me, it’s the lost balance between streaming and theatrical release. I love streaming. I think it’s a very powerful tool for exploring a history of cinema. But it’s important to protect a window for the theatrical release, and that keeps me from sleeping at night.
As a known admirer of Christopher Nolan, Villenueve would have been delighted that part of the premier’s deal with Universal to distribute Oppenheimer was a 100-day theatrical exclusive, something that will become increasingly rare at the future, even for a successful sequel like Dune: Second part.
