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Last year's release of Denis Villenueve's epic blockbuster sequel, Dune: Part Two, met widespread critical and audience acclaim along with overwhelming box-office returns. But the famed director isn't finished with Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi universe just yet. He is already developing his highly-anticipated film-trilogy finale: Dune: Messiah.

Despite there being six books in the main series, Villeneuve doesn't intend to make any more Dune movies beyond this upcoming threequel. Regardless, his films have brought Herbert's original characters and story to life in a way that hasn't been accomplished before in theaters, so it's no wonder die-hard fans are already itching for more. Here's everything we know so far about his third, and final, installment, Dune: Messiah — from production updates to the expected plot — so everyone can get just as excited as we are to see Paul Atreides' character arc brought to a satisfying end.

'Dune: Messiah'...

The devil works hard, but Denis Villeneuve works harder. Evidently not content with having already directed four of the best science fiction movies of the 21st century, the Dune: Part Twodirector is gearing up to helm an adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Rendezvous With Rama. First announced in 2021, the project has excited sci-fi fans and cinephiles alike and, if all goes well, will potentially begin filming after Dune: Messiah — which will star Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Anya Taylor-Joy.

Denis Villeneuve already has several sci-fi projects under his belt, and all of them were highly critically acclaimed. His most recent ‘Dune: Part Two’ earned 5 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture nomination, ‘Dune’ released in 2021 earned won 6 Oscars.

Villeneuve is currently in the early stages of development of the second book in the ‘Dune’ series – ‘Dune Messiah’ and it will serve as the sequel to the previous two films.

Now in his most recent interview, Villeneuve admitted that he is eyeing one more sci-fi project, a notable sci-fi epic ‘Rendezvous with Rama.’

Villeneuve said ‘Rendezvous with Rama’ is similar to ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ as it involves astronauts encountering another civilization. Unlike ‘Dune,’ it focuses on realistic, future technology, making it “hard science fiction,” which he’s excited to explore for the first time in his career. He hopes to take on such a project at least once in his life.

Taylor Sheridan is now known for being the brains behind the neo-Western TV series Yellowstone, which recently wrapped up its series finale. While the actor turned TV juggernaut hit it big with the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Hell or High Water and the Paramount series, his debut Sicario is still regarded as one of the best films of the past two decades.

The Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro starrer was directed by Denis Villeneuve and was critically acclaimed for its nuanced exploration of the border conflict. However, neither Villeneuve nor Blunt returned for Sicario: Day of the Soldado, leading to a much lesser positive reception. Del Toro’s apprehension at the absence of the core talent might not bid well for the upcoming Sicario 3.

Benicio Del Toro was reportedly initially apprehensive about returning to Sicario: Day of the Soldado A still from Sicario | Credits: Lionsgate

Taylor Sheridan’s screenwriting...

Harry Potter is one of the most beloved fantasy film franchises of all time. Fans travel the globe to visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London, or to get their own wand from Ollivanders at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida. Some dedicated fans even visit King's Cross Station in London on what would be the first official day of Hogwarts every year. You may have even been asked what house you're in. But imagine how different the franchise would be if David Fincher got his hands on it. Would Harry open a box with Dumbledore's head in it? Or is Voldemort actually part of Harry Potter's fractured psyche? It's safe to say it would be weird. Well, David Fincher has clued fans in on just how weird his Harry Potter movie could have gotten.

Speaking to Variety, the acclaimed director of Fight Club and Se...

David Fincher, the director known for films like Seven, Gone Girl, and The Social Network, recently shared a surprising tidbit about his career. In an interview with Variety, he revealed that he was once approached to direct the Harry Potter movies.

However, his vision was much darker than what the studio had in mind. Fincher wanted to make the film feel more like the quirky, offbeat movie Withnail and I and less like the typical polished Hollywood version Warner Bros. had in mind. The studio’s idea, he said, was more aligned with a style inspired by the schooldays of Oliver!.

Throughout his long career, Fincher has worked on various projects, some of which never saw the light of day. These include two sequels to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, an adaptation of Rendezvous with Rama, and a follow-up to World War Z.

Despite his involvement in these high-profile projects,...

Dune director Denis Villeneuve explains why he'll stick to making movies for now. Villeneuve got his start making short films and made his feature debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998. Since then, the Blade Runner 2049 director rose to fame through a series of critically acclaimed films, including the 2010 drama Incendies, 2013's Prisoners starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, and the Oscar-nominated Arrival in 2016.

Villeneuve explained to Vanity Fair in an interview why he would likely not make any television series in his career. The director admitted that he "love[s] to love it," but he's "not inspired" by the form. Instead, he prefers the structure of movies. Check out what he said below:

I love to love it, but I am not inspired by the long form. I love the economy of time of a feature film. There's something more contained that I prefer.

What Denis Villeneuve's Comment Means...

Denis Villeneuve's last two feature films were 2021's "Dune" and 2024's "Dune: Part Two," collectively an adaptation of Frank Herbert's celebrated 1965 sci-fi epic set in the distant, distant future. Villeneuve's "Dune" films removed a lot of the eerie mysticism of Herbert's works, focusing instead on the book's sociopolitical underpinnings. They told a story of how religions are deliberately wielded by cynical political power-seekers to topple existing regimes, and how those regimes can, in turn, be manipulated by different shady religious zealots. The main character of the film was Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young prince who escaped assassination, fled into the deserts of the planet Arrakis, took solace among the remote desert-dwelling people, and -- thanks to the machinations of his mother -- became the desert's Messiah. He then returned to overthrow the killer Harkonnen family.

All of this, it should be noted, was to gain control of Arrakis,...

Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve explains why Dune: Messiah won't be part of a franchise trilogy. After closing the first part of Paul Atreides' (Timothe Chalamet) journey with Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve is currently hard at work developing the story outline for Dune: Messiah, which is based on the Frank Herbert book of the same name. The story is set twelve years after the events of Dune and concludes Atreides' story within the Known Universe.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Villeneuve argues why his upcoming adaptation of Dune: Messiah will not be part of a trilogy. Stating that the first two Dune films he helmed were part of a diptych, Villeneuve says that the third movie will have its own identity and contain a brand-new cinematic philosophy. Check out what he said on the matter below:

The thing is, first, its really important that people understand for me, it was really a diptych,...

Steady your sandworms and sound the space bagpipes — Dune news coming through! It's been an interesting few months for fans of the Dcu (that's the Dune Cinematic Universe), with confirmation coming back in April that a Dune Part Three is officially in the works at Legendary, and then further reports in June placing an 'Untitled Event Film' from director Denis Villeneuve in Warner Bros.' slate for December 2026. Now, in an interview with Vanity Fair for their "Little Gold Men" podcast, Villeneuve has confirmed that Dune: Messiah is currently being written — and, more importantly, the Quebecois filmmaker's third trip to Arrakis will also be his last.

When asked about his progress on a follow-up to Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve — who says he sees Dune: Messiah as its own thing and his first two Frank Herbert adaptations as a self-contained diptych ("It's not like a trilogy") — revealed his desire to exit...

Hulu subscribers are now able to stream one of director Denis Villeneuve's most acclaimed action movies. Sicario, starring Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin, has recently been added to the streaming service.

Written by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, Sicario is an action thriller that follows a principled FBI special agent (Blunt) who is enlisted by a government task force to bring down the leader of a powerful and brutal Mexican drug cartel. The movie received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, holding a 92 percent score on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes. Sicario was also an awards darling, receiving multiple nominations at the Academy Awards and BAFTAs. In addition to its critical acclaim, Sicario was a modest box-office success, grossing $85 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.

Related Hugh Jackman's Best Role Was in This 2013 Denis Villeneuve Thriller

Deadpool & Wolverine star Hugh Jackman may be best known for his claws,...

Warner Bros has announced that Denis Villeneuve’s next film will release in December 2026. There’s speculation that the director could be making Dune: Messiah next after all…

Not so long ago, director Denis Villeneuve had said that he wanted to take a break from the sands of Arrakis before he made his trilogy-closing sequel to Dune: Part Two.

Over the weekend, however, there has been growing speculation that Villeneuve may make Dune: Messiah next after all.

On the 26th June, Warner Bros announced a couple of films on its upcoming slate, neither of which are titled. One is an ‘event film’ directed by Villeneuve and scheduled for the 18th December 2026. The other, per The Hollywood Reporter, is another film in the MonsterVerse franchise, following this year’s Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire; that one’s due out on the 26th March 2027.

There’s nothing official to suggest that...

Denis Villeneuve, the renowned director known for making some iconic films like Blade Runner 2049, Dune: Part One, and, Dune: Part Two might just make another iconic film to complete his trilogy.

A still from the Dune: Part Two. | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Starring Timothée Chalamet in the lead role alongside Zendaya and an ensemble cast, the Dune films are getting fame and recognition worldwide. Contradicting his own statements, Denis Villeneuve stated that he will be making Dune: Messiah (or Dune 3) after all!

Denis Villeneuve Wanted To Work On Something Else

Back in 2021, Denis Villeneuve went on to release one of the most iconic pieces of cinema that the world had ever seen, Dune: Part One. Starring Timothée Chalamet in the lead role of Paul Atreides, the movie brought Frank Herbert’s novel to life.

Denis Villeneuve at the 2017 Sdcc | Gage Skidmore for Wikimedia Commons

After 3 years, Dune: Part Two...

As Duke Leto Atreides once sort of said, "A great director doesn't seek to make movies — he's called to it." And speaking of great directors, perpetually booked and busy Quebecois auteur Denis Villeneuve is already back at it and gearing up for his next film. As reported by Deadline, the _Blade Runner 2049_filmmaker has been revealed to be the helmsman of Warner Bros. 'Untitled Event Film', slated for release in December 2026.

Now, Villeneuve is a man with many project plates spinning, including a long-gestating adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's sci-fi Rendezvous With Rama and a recently announced cinematic take on Annie Jacobsen's speculative non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario. However, according to Deadline's sources, Warner Bros. and Legendary are holding that coveted December launch date in the hopes another hotly anticipated Villeneuve adaptation, Dune: Messiah, will fill it. The trade outlet's reporting at the very least confirms that...

Screenwriter Eric Roth has written an adaptation of the sci-fi short story called I Am Waiting For You, reportedly for Dune director Denis Villeneuve.

Having made what is currently the highest grossing film of 2024, Dune: Part Two, the logical question is: what does director Denis Villeneuve make next? There’s been talk about turning his Dune saga into a trilogy with Dune: Messiah, but the filmmaker has previously said “it would be healthy” to make something slightly different before he returns to Arrakis.

Among the potential films we know about there’s his long-discussed Cleopatra epic; an adaptation of Arthur C Clarke’s sci-fi novel Rendezvous With Rama, an adaptation of the non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario.

Then there’s a slightly more mysterious sci-fi film said to be “about space and time”, written by Eric Roth, who also wrote the adapted screenplay of Rendezvous With Rama. When Roth...

Following his groundbreaking adaptation of Dune, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is poised to set even higher standards with his upcoming take on Arthur C. Clarke’s revered novel, Rendezvous With Rama. Initially announced in 2021, the filmmaker has shared that its development is underway, as he navigates other projects, including Cleopatra and the Dune threequel, all of which are concurrently in the writing stages.

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve | Credit: Deadline Hollywood via YouTube

However, the adaptation of Clarke’s iconic science fiction narrative has already marked a significant milestone, as after being pursued by esteemed filmmakers in the industry, an adaptation has finally progressed to the development phase under Villeneuve’s direction.

Rendezvous With Rama Faced a Decade of Developmental Challenges

Rendezvous With Rama revolves around a group of explorers, aboard the spaceship The Endeavor, as they set out to investigate a massive cylindrical alien starship entering the Solar System. Arthur C. Clarke’s novel explores various narratives,...

Veteran director David Fincer worked alongside iconic actor Morgan Freeman when they created and shot the 1995 film Se7en. Portraying the role of Detective Somerset in the crime/mystery film, Freeman loved Fincher’s work and the two decided to work together again.

Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in Seven

However, Fincher never got to make his dream film with Morgan Freeman due to the latter’s failing health in the year 2008. With passing time and no hopes left, Fincher’s dream film was later picked up by Dune director Denis Villeneuve and he describes it as “Arrival on steroids”!

David Fincher Wanted His Dream Film With Morgan Freeman

Rendezvous With Rama is a 1973 sci-fi novel by writer Arthur C. Clarke (who also wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey). Naturally, veteran director David Fincher wanted to adapt the 1972 novel into a film starring Morgan Freeman in one of the lead roles.

David Fincher.

Denis Villeneuve took the world by storm with his epic Dune franchise, which will eventually see the release of a third iteration. However, the director in himself is not staying put and is already working on another potential fantasy franchise which is bound to excite fans. The director revealed in a recent interview that he has an adaptation based on Arthur C. Clarke’s 1973 science-fiction novel, Rendezvous with Rama, in the works.

Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune. | Warner Bros.

The novel, which focuses on an interstellar object that enters the solar system in 2131, revolves around Jimmy Pak, an explorer aboard the spaceship The Endeavor. Pak and his team is sent to investigate the 50-km-long spaceship that has entered the solar system.

The novel in itself includes everything a space fantasy series might need. Humungous-spider-like alien creatures, large spaceships akin to Star Wars, the existence of cultural and religious notions...

As the saying goes, the mystery of Denis Villeneuve's upcoming projects isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience. And whilst we wait with baited breath for further word on Villeneuve's eagerly awaited Arthur C. Clarke adaptation Rendezvous With Rama (which is still expected to be the Quebecois filmmaker's next feature), we do at least have confirmation of another hotly anticipated Denis sci-fi epic headed our way. Yes folks, with the epic Dune Part Two smashing it at the global box-office, we can finally rest easy in the knowledge that Villeneuve is making further steps towards finishing his Dune trilogy at Legendary Pictures.

Per Deadline, Dune: Messiah — or Dune Part Three if you'd prefer — is in development at Legendary, with the franchise's very own Lisan al-Gaib, Villeneuve himself, set to helm the trilogy closer. And though there's no news as of yet on casting, filming, or even a speculative release date,...

Director Denis Villeneuve is currently developing Dune: Messiah, but it’s also being reported that he’ll adapt the non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario after that.

We heard last month that a sequel to this year’s sci-fi opus Dune: Part Two was greenlit and in the process of being written at Legendary Entertainment. While Dune: Messiah bubbles on the stove, though, it’s being reported that director Denis Villeneuve has another project in the works at Legendary – an adaptation of the book Nuclear War: A Scenario.

A New York Times best seller by Annie Jacobsen, Nuclear War is described by its publisher Penguin as a “edge-of-your-seat thriller” with the author basing her what-if vision of armageddon on interviews with military experts.

Deadline reports that Legendary has bought the rights to the novel, and that Villeneuve is expected to make Nuclear War after he’s finished Dune: Messiah.

It...

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two has worm-ridden its way to success after debuting with $182 million on opening weekend. The film has earned over $514 million at the international box office, making it the highest-grossing film of 2024 as of now. The Timothée Chalamet starrer has also been widely regarded by critics and audiences as a masterpiece.

The film is a follow-up to 2021’s Dune: Part One, continuing the story of Paul Atreides and his mother Lady Jessica on the desert planet of Arrakis after their family is betrayed by the evil Harkonnens and the Emperor Shaddam IV. Both films are based on Dune by Frank Herbert. While the novel series has four more books, Villeneuve reported is just interested in adapting the second book and wrapping up the story with Dune 3.

Denis Villeneuve Spent Six Years On Arrakis While Filming The Dune Franchise Denis Villeneuve | Credits: CBC

Denis Villeneuve has spent...

Adapting Frank Herbert's "Dune" novel series to the big screen is no small feat. The scale of Herbert's world-building and the complex optics of the thematic threads that run through the story are fairly tricky to translate to the visual medium. A quick look at the history of adapting "Dune" would lead you to several efforts: David Lynch's 1984 film is delightfully weird but fails as an adaptation, while Alejandro Jodorowsky's unmade film ran into a ton of problems despite inching towards a workable script. Enter Denis Villeneuve's "Dune," and his recently released "Dune: Part Two," which managed to accomplish what was long thought to be impossible by birthing a saga that is both faithful to the books and imbued with the director's creative liberties.

Adaptations are bound to be flawed, as it is often tough to reconcile a beloved novel franchise's context-specific shortcomings with evolving perspectives,...

Renowned for his masterful storytelling prowess, Denis Villeneuve has once again earned widespread acclaim for the recently released Dune 2. The sequel to the 2021 film has proved to be another incredible addition to Villeneuve’s filmography alongside movies like Sicario, Blade Runner 2049, and the 2016 sci-fi drama Arrival.

Denis Villeneuve on the set of Dune 2

As the filmmaker’s unwavering commitment to storytelling excellence continues to captivate audiences worldwide, anticipation is also building for his upcoming adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s revered science fiction novel Rendezvous with Rama. And fans believe that the adaptation holds the potential to secure his status as the greatest sci-fi director of our time.

Denis Villeneuve’s Highly-Anticipated Project After Dune 2

Following the monumental success of Dune 2, fans are eagerly anticipating Denis Villeneuve’s next venture into the realm of science fiction with the film adaptation of Rendezvous With Rama. The...

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has insisted that after the second flick ‘Dune: Part Two’, which followed the 2021 epic war film, adapted from Frank Herbert’s original classic novel, ‘Dune Messiah’ will be his last outing if it’s green-lit, despite there being four more books.

He said: “Dune Messiah should be the last Dune movie for me”. Villeneuve will then turn his attention to adaptations of Stacy Schiff’s ‘Cleopatra’ and Arthur C. Clarke’s ‘Rendezvous With Rama’, reports Female First UK.

The director made the revelation to Time magazine. Actress Zendaya recently said she would “of course” return for ‘Dune 3’.

The 27-year-old actress is open to reprising her role of Chani in a potential ‘Dune Messiah’ film and insisted that she will work with the director again anytime he asks.

She told Fandango: “Would we be down? I mean of course. Anytime Denis calls it’s a yes from me,...

After Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve will potentially make Dune Messiah, but won’t continue making further entries, the director has said.

After a lengthy delay, director Denis Villeneuve’s much-anticipated Dune: Part Two is only a month away. And as the sci-fi follow-up to 2021’s Dune readies for release, Villeneuve has talked about his interest in making a third film – an adaptation of novelist Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah – and how he’s happy to end his involvement in the saga there.

Herbert’s operatic space fantasy continued for five further novels after the seminal Dune, published in 1965, while his son Brian and other authors continued the narrative in a string of other books after he author’s passing in 1986. But while there’s a veritable sea of books and stories to draw from in future movies, Villeneuve seemed content to move onto other projects after the completion of Dune Messiah.

Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve hints at Dune 3 (Photo Credit – wikimedia/IMDb)

We are just a few weeks away from the release of Dune: Part Two. It’s a Denis Villeneuve directorial that stars Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Florence Pugh, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Lea Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Austin Butler, and Stellan Skarsgard. Based on author Frank Herbert’s Dune book series, Denis has turned his first book into two movies, the first one released in 2021.

The trailer and promos of Dune: Part Two have stirred enough curiosity among the audience to see what Timothee’s character, Paul Atreides, will do to avenge what happened to his family. We all know the second film will end on a cliffhanger, naturally making way for the third Dune film. Dune 3 will be based on Herbert’s sequel to his first book, Dune Messiah. In an interview, Denis hinted that the threequel is indeed happening,...

Dune: Part Two's official runtime is quite sandworm-sized.

Digital Spy reported that, per the Irish Film Classification Office, Dune: Part Two will run for a total of 165 minutes, or two hours and forty-five minutes. This makes it longer than director Denis Villeneuve's first Dune film, which clocked in at 155 minutes, as well as David Lynch's original Dune adaptation at 137 minutes. It's also Villeneuve's longest movie to date.

Related Timothe Chalamet Spoils a Major Characters Return in Dune: Messiah Timothe Chalamet reveals which character from the first installment will return in Dune: Messiah after being absent in Dune: Part Two.

This news corroborates a December report listing Dune: Part Two's runtime as 166 minutes long, though like the first part in Villeneuve's duology, it will be rated PG-13 for "sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language." Select moviegoers will receive a sneak peek...

Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve recently shared that it may be a while before he returns to the desert planet Arrakis for his adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune: Messiah.

According to Variety, Villeneuve gave an update on Dune: Messiah, which is expected to conclude his Dune trilogy, during a South Korean press conference for Part Two. "The screenplay is almost finished but it is not finished. It will take a little time …There’s a dream of making a third movie … it would make absolute sense to me … I don’t know exactly when I will go back to Arrakis," the director shared, hinting that he "might make a detour before just to go away from the sun. For my mental sanity, I might do something in between, but my dream would be to go a last time on this planet that I love."

Related Lego Partners With...

Rumors surrounding Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve's upcoming film adaptation of "Rendezvous with Rama" just received a huge boost.

Killers of the Flower Moon and Dune Part One screenwriter Eric Roth dropped a major possible hint surrounding the Rendezvous with Rama adaptation. "I just wrote a film for Denis Villeneuve," Roth said to the Script Apart Podcast. "For a new -- I won't tell you what it is -- it's kind of a secret of its own. We'll see what ends up happening with that, but it's about space and time, and it's very long. So [laughs], certainly it's about eternity. We'll see. We'll see if it works. Yeah, no, I adore him [Villeneuve]. He's wonderful."

Related Denis Villeneuve's Dune Also Ignores the One Scene Frank Herbert Wanted Frank Herbert enjoyed David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of Dune, but he wished it had included one scene that Denis Villeneuve's version also omits.

Screenwriter Eric Roth reveals he’s written a sci-fi script for Denis Villeneuve that is “certainly about eternity.”

We know that Denis Villeneuve has already set his sights on completing his Dune trilogy, so the celebrated director’s attention is most likely focused on grinding the gears of a trilogy-capper irreversibly into motion in the months preceding Dune: Part II's delayed March opening.

However, it seems the filmmaker has been thinking about life beyond Dune, given that the acclaimed screenwriter Eric Roth has revealed that he’s penned a ‘secret’ script for Villeneuve, one that is about “space and time”. Roth was appearing on the A Script Apart podcast when he made the revelation, and while he didn’t give away too much, the project certainly sounded like it belongs in Villeneuve’s cerebral house style, given that he’s already made thought-provoking films such as Arrival and Blade Runner 2049.

Former MGM International Television executive Steven Johnson will join Alcon Entertainment as evp, head of physical production.

Johnson, who held a similar position at MGM, will oversee physical production for Alcon’s film, television and documentary projects, which include the Amazon television series Blade Runner 2099, the animated feature film, Garfield starring Chris Pratt and Samuel L. Jackson for Sony Pictures, the feature film Rendezvous With Rama, directed by Denis Villenueve, and the upcoming docuseries based on basketball coach John Thompson.

Alcon has financed and produced or co-financed and co-produced previous projects including The Blind Side, Blade Runner 2049 and The Book of Eli.

Before joining MGM, Johnson was the vice president of TV physical production at MRC Studios, where he worked on Ozark and The Great, and vice president of production at 21st Century Fox. He previously worked as a line producer for Tobey Maguire’s former production company,...

Exclusive: Alcon Entertainment has appointed former MGM executive Steven Johnson as EVP, Head of Physical Production.

Johnson comes to Alcon following two and a half years at MGM International Television, where he served as Senior Vice President of Physical Production. He will now oversee physical production for all Alcon projects across film, TV and documentary, including the Prime Video limited series Blade Runner 2099 under showrunner Silka Luisa, the animated feature Garfield starring Chris Pratt and Samuel L. Jackson for Sony Pictures, Denis Villeneuve’s feature Rendezvous With Rama, based on the classic Arthur C. Clarke novel, and its upcoming docuseries on legendary basketball coach John Thompson.

“Steven’s unique experience across all sectors of production over the past 20+ years gives him tremendous perspective and expertise and we look forward to him bringing his vast experience to Alcon,” said the company’s co-founders and co-CEOs, Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove.

The most shocking snub of this year’s Oscar nominations was Denis Villeneuve’s omission from the best directing category for his science-fiction epic “Dune.” “It’s better to be in that position than the opposite,” Villeneuve tells Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast. “I prefer people say you should have been there instead of ‘what the hell are you doing there?’ I’m not making movies to get awards recognition. If you do that, you’re not walking the right path. I make cinema because I love the art form of cinema. I love making movies. If you had told me a year ago that we would get 10 nominations, including best picture, I would have laughed and said, ” You are out of your mind.”

On this episode of the award-winning “Variety Awards Circuit Podcast,” double Oscar-nominee Villeneuve discusses his passion for creating the world of “Dune” and that best director snub.

Denis Villeneuve ("Dune") will direct a live-action adaptation of author Arthur C. Clarke's science fiction novel "Rendezvous with Rama", to be produced by Alcon Entertainment ("Blade Runner 2049"):

"...by the year 2130, the solar system has been colonized, with humans living on planets ranging from Mercury to the moons of Neptune. Despite so much expansion and discovery, there have been no signs of intelligent life besides our own Earth-born. Until 'Rama'. Weighing more than ten trillion tons, smoothly shaped, and racing towards the sun at astonishing speed, Rama was no natural object, but clearly an interstellar spacecraft. It appeared to be on course to loop around the Sun, but at a dangerously close orbit.

"After 'Commander William Tsien Norton' makes the tricky landing of his ship 'Endeavor' on the edge of the colossal craft, he discovers an airlock.

"Awaiting him on the other side of that portal is a...

Denis Villeneuve ("Dune") is developing a live-action adaptation of author Arthur C. Clarke's science fiction novel "Rendezvous with Rama", to be produced by Alcon Entertainment ("Blade Runner 2049"):

"...by the year 2130, the solar system has been colonized, with humans living on planets ranging from Mercury to the moons of Neptune. Despite so much expansion and discovery, there have been no signs of intelligent life besides our own Earth-born. Until 'Rama'. Weighing more than ten trillion tons, smoothly shaped, and racing towards the sun at astonishing speed, Rama was no natural object, but clearly an interstellar spacecraft. It appeared to be on course to loop around the Sun, but at a dangerously close orbit.

"After 'Commander William Tsien Norton' makes the tricky landing of his ship 'Endeavor' on the edge of the colossal craft, he discovers an airlock.

"Awaiting him on the other side of that portal is a...

Denis Villeneuve ("Dune") will direct a live-action adaptation of author Arthur C. Clarke's science fiction novel "Rendezvous with Rama", to be produced by Alcon Entertainment ("Blade Runner 2049"):

"...by the year 2130, the solar system has been colonized, with humans living on planets ranging from Mercury to the moons of Neptune. Despite so much expansion and discovery, there have been no signs of intelligent life besides our own Earth-born. Until 'Rama'. Weighing more than ten trillion tons, smoothly shaped, and racing towards the sun at astonishing speed, Rama was no natural object, but clearly an interstellar spacecraft. It appeared to be on course to loop around the Sun, but at a dangerously close orbit.

"After 'Commander William Tsien Norton' makes the tricky landing of his ship 'Endeavor' on the edge of the colossal craft, he discovers an airlock.

"Awaiting him on the other side of that portal is a...

We look at the films that slipped through Hollywood's net, from biblical epics to a time travelling Gladiator sequel...

This article contains a spoiler for Gladiator.

If you're one of those frustrated over the quality of many of the blockbusters that make it to the inside of a multiplex, then ponder the following. For each of these were supposed to be major projects, that for one reason or another, stalled on their way to the big screen. Some still may make it. But for many others, the journey is over. Here are the big blockbusters that never were...

1. Airframe

The late Michael Crichton scored another residential on the bestseller list with his impressive thriller, Airframe. It was published in 1996, just after films of Crichton works such as Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure and the immortal Congo had proven to be hits of various sizes.

So: a hit book, another techno thriller,...

Odd List Ryan Lambie Simon Brew 7 Oct 2013 - 06:41

Horror. Fantasy. Animated Comedy. Here's a list of films we'd love to see rescued from the jaws of development hell...

Development hell. The place where all kinds of movies and games languish while assorted filmmakers, designers and producers fight over the minutiae of scripts, ideas and finances.

It's a topic so fascinating, entire books have been written on the subject - for a really great, geek-friendly one, check out David Hughes' fantastic The Greatest Sci-fi Movies Never Made. And while there are some movies that we're quietly glad are stuck in limbo (sorry, Akira), there are others we're desperately keen to see.

For this article, we've stuck to relatively recent film projects, and ones that aren't, to the best of our knowledge, utterly beyond the bounds of possibility. The Tourist, for example - an exotic sci-fi script written by Clair Noto...

  David Fincher has spoken about a number of upcoming projects, including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Rendezvous With Rama and 20,000 Leauges Under the Sea. Talking to Collider whilst promoting the DVD release of The Social Network, Fincher spilt the beans on his future projects. On his currently shooting Stieg Larsson adaptation, Fincher said: "Dragon Tattoo came along and I was like "Awww fuck man you cannot make another serial killer movie... You've got to fucking stop this."" "[From the studio side]...

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Collider did an awesome interview with David Fincher recently and they discussed his numerous films in the works, including 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Fincher revealed that this film will mark his first project to be show in 3D.

When asked about the film being in 3D Fincher reponsded, “Yeah. 20,000 Leagues will be 3D,” He went on to say that he thinks 3D is “cool…when it’s done right.”

The screenplay for Leagues is from Scott Z. Burns who wrote The Bourne Ultimatum, The Informant and Contagion. As of now the film is not officially Fincher's next film according to the director who stated, “I think that there’s a lot of movies that could be my next film.”

Fincher also confirmed a slew of other films he has on his slate to direct such as Rendezvous With Rama, Heavy Metal, The Killer and The Reincarnation Of Peter Proud.

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Ja from Mnpp here. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times yesterday Jon Favreau opened up about why he's not doing the third Iron Man film (Nat mentioned it yesterday), and in so doing this tid-bit presented itself:

"Favreau is set to direct “Magic Kingdom,” which the 44-year-old filmmaker described as a family fantasy adventure that will tap into the vintage Disney creations that “loomed so large in the imagination” of his generation. Favreau said that [David] Fincher ... will direct the studio’s ”20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” a Jules Verne bookshelf classic that is closely associated with Disney after the landmark 1954 film and the submarine theme-park ride, and Disney confirmed that to be the case. [Guillermo] Del Toro had already been announced as director of a new “Haunted Mansion” film."

That's right - David Fincher, currently swallowing whole every critic's prize in sight for his little Facebook movie, might be making...

Director David Fincher has admitted that his science fiction film Rendezvous With Rama is "not going to happen". Morgan Freeman, who worked with Fincher on Se7en, has been attached to star in the film for almost a decade. However, Fincher told First Showing that Freeman's health problems were a contributing factor in the film's demise. Fincher said: "It looks like it's not going to happen. (more)...

Arthur C. Clarke, the legendary science fiction writer whose work inspired the classic Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey, died early Wednesday at his home in Sri Lanka; he was 90. According to his aide, Rohan De Silva, Clarke died after suffering from breathing problems; the author had been suffering from post-polio syndrome since the 1960s, and often used a wheelchair. Born in the United Kingdom, Clarke served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and after the war earned a degree in math and physics at King's College London. He soon became involved with the the British Interplanetary Society, and also pioneered the concept that satellites could serve as telecommunications relays. While writing a number of non-fiction technical books on space exploration, he also began work on fiction in the 1940s, including "The Sentinel," a 1948 short story he wrote for a BBC competition that would later serve as the basis for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. After meeting with filmmaker Stanley Kubrick in 1964, the two began to collaborate on the script for a film that would expand on Clarke's initial story. Both began work on a book that would serve as a basis for the screenplay, but work on the film began in conjunction with the writing of the novel. As a result, the Kubrick film was released in 1967, well before the book's publication in 1968. While Clarke and Kubrick were both credited with the film's screenplay (earning an Academy Award nomination), Clarke was cited as the sole author of the book; the writer would go on to document the many differences between the book and film in The Lost Worlds of 2001, published in 1972. The film became a landmark work of cinema, featuring such iconic images as a looming black monolith and a score of classical music, including the piece "Thus Spake Zarathustra," that would become forever linked with the film. Clarke also was a television commentator alongside Walter Cronkite for the Apollo moonshots in the late 1960s, and would go on to host a number of science-oriented television shows in the 1980s. He continued to write throughout the 1970s (his works included the novel Rendezvous with Rama), and in 1982 wrote a sequel to 2001 entitled 2010: Odyssey Two, which would later become a 1984 film. Though he was not credited on the screenplay, Clarke corresponded with filmmaker Peter Hyams over the film. In the late 1990s, he was the subject of accusations of pedophilia, just as he was about to be made a knight; later investigations cleared him of all charges, and he finally received his knighthood in 2000. Clarke's home since 1956 was Sri Lanka, where he pursued his passion for marine diving. In December of 2007 he recorded a "good-bye" video message for friends, family and fans of his work. Clarke was briefly married in the early 1950s, and has no children. --IMDb staff...