Spielberg praises Dune
Spanish outlets report Steven Spielberg publicly praised Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and expressed eagerness for the third installment. (elconfidencialdigital.com)
Steven Spielberg said Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” films are among his favorite science-fiction movies ever, and he said he “cannot wait” for the third film. (empireonline.com) Empire published the remarks on April 5, 2026, and multiple outlets in Spain and the United States matched the same quotes from Spielberg’s interview. He singled out “Dune: Part Two” and said it is “the best movie Denis has ever made.” (empireonline.com, infobae.com) Spielberg also said he expects Villeneuve will show him the next film early, adding, “I’m such a fan of his.” Spanish outlet El Confidencial Digital recast those comments on April 13 as a fresh burst of attention around the franchise’s next chapter. (empireonline.com, elconfidencialdigital.com) The timing matters because “Dune: Part Three” already has a release date of December 18, 2026, according to Legendary and Warner Bros. IMAX also began selling tickets for opening-weekend 70 millimeter screenings this month. (legendary.com, warnerbros.com, imax.com) Villeneuve’s adaptation has moved from prestige gamble to studio cornerstone since “Dune: Part One” opened in 2021 and “Dune: Part Two” followed in 2024. The second film earned more than $700 million worldwide and won the 2025 Academy Awards for Sound and Visual Effects. (boxofficemojo.com, oscars.org, dneg.com) The third film is billed by the studio as the continuation of Paul Atreides’ story after his rise to power. Industry coverage has also tied it to Frank Herbert’s 1969 novel “Dune Messiah,” the book that follows the original “Dune.” (dunemovie.com, deadline.com) Spielberg’s praise carries extra weight because he is one of Hollywood’s defining science-fiction directors, with credits including “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” and “Minority Report.” In the same April cover story, Empire framed his comments as part of a broader conversation about the state of big-screen filmmaking. (empireonline.com, yahoo.com) For Villeneuve, the public endorsement lands as the trilogy heads toward its finish line in theaters on December 18. For Spielberg, it was a simple verdict: these are not just recent favorites, but all-time ones. (legendary.com, empireonline.com)
