“It is beyond my capabilities”: Denis Villeneuve Exits Jake Gyllenhaal’s HBO Series as Dune Part Two Wins Over Fans’ Hearts
The second part of the superhit movie Dune will be released on March 1, 2024. The cast of the original movie is returning along with a few new faces including Austin Butler and Anya Taylor-Joy. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the movie has garnered popular support for its out-of-the-world story and setting. The French-Canadian filmmaker has won numerous awards for his visionary work.
What’s Next for Dune Director Denis Villeneuve?
Announced in 2016, The Son is a miniseries based on the book of the same name written by Jo Nesbø. It was supposed to be directed by Denis Villeneuve and feature Jake Gyllenhaal. However, recently, the filmmaker revealed to Norwegian outlet VG that he is no longer directing the HBO miniseries. He added,
“It’s, it’s a project that I absolutely love. And I love the book. I love that writer, very strong writer. And the thing is that, I brought this project to do a miniseries, because I thought that to bring it, to try to protect all the elements of the book, it was too much for a feature film. But I did feel that the adaptation we’ve made, which I think the screenplays were excellent, but far away from my sensibility.”
The show has not gotten any update since it was announced given both the director and the lead actor have been busy with their respective commitments. In 2020, Warner Bros underwent significant changes, outlining a change in its announced projects too. Some of their projects were even canceled. There has been no official confirmation by HBO whether the show will be made or scrapped entirely. Even Gyllenhaal’s involvement in the show is unconfirmed. Nonetheless, Villeneuve hopes someone else takes up this project and the series sees the light of day.
What is The Son About?
The HBO series is set to adapt the eponymous novel by a Norwegian author. It is a revenge story where corruption and violence take center stage. Set in Oslo, the story follows Sonny Lofthus who is imprisoned for crimes he did not commit. His life unravels as he learns how his father truly died and chooses a path of revenge. The plot of the book has some aspects from the Bible, but the exact story of the show has been kept under wraps.
Also Read: Denis Villeneuve is Working on 4 Different Projects, Including ‘Dune: Messiah’
Gyllenhaal also serves as the producer of the show along with Bold Films, Jo Nesbø, and Niclas Salomonsson. Given the success of the Dune franchise, Villeneuve might have exited the show to focus on expanding the world of Dune with more chapters in the future. Moreover, his ambitious outlook toward adaptation projects made him a good choice to create The Son for HBO.
