Dune 2 director Denis Villeneuve tells Steven Spielberg about the potential of Zendaya as a director

During a conversation on DGA’s The Director’s Cut podcast released on March 26, director Denis Villeneuve commended Zendaya for her strong work ethic and ability to listen to directions. According to Villeneuve, he shared with Stephen Spielberg his belief that Zendaya has the potential to become a director while working with her on Dune: Part Two.

As the podcast moderator, Spielberg posed the question to him:

“Were there any actors on your film that you think will be directors? That were kind of like, over your shoulder, wanting to see the lens, really curious about how you were styling your shots?”

In response, Villeneuve said Zendaya’s name.

“The truth … there’s someone that spent a lot of time behind the camera listening — Zendaya.”

In the recent Dune movies, Zendaya’s role as Chani alongside Timothée Chalamet was met with critical acclaim. As of the time of writing this article, the highly anticipated Dune: Part Two, released on March 1, 2024, is currently the top-grossing film of the year.

Denis Villeneuve’s thoughts on working with Zendaya

The world premiere of 'Dune: Part Two' (Image via Getty/John Phillips) — The world premiere of ‘Dune: Part Two’ (Image via Getty/John Phillips)

During a one-on-one conversation for DGA’s The Director’s Cut podcast, director Steven Spielberg discussed Denis Villeneuve’s latest sci-fi blockbuster Dune: Part Two. He praised the film for its critical and commercial success and asked Villeneuve which cast member he believed had potential as a future director. Villeneuve responded with high praise for Zendaya.

“She’s so clever, but shows she’s brilliant and her strong presence, and she was always on set even when she was not shooting. Just sitting between [cinematographer] Greg [Fraser] and I listening, listening and listening. So I would not be surprised that one day we learn that she wants to go behind [the camera].”

After receiving the response, Spielberg playfully jotted down Zendaya’s name, quipping, “Let’s check if Zendaya is free…”as he expressed his admiration for the actress.

Steven Spielberg at the 96th Oscars Nominees Luncheon (via Getty/JC Olivera)

The ex-Disney actress has previously served as a producer for Netflix’s Malcolm & Marie and the second season of HBO’s Euphoria, earning her two Emmy Awards for Best Actress. Additionally, she has been honored with a Golden Globe and is currently producing her upcoming film Challengers.

During their conversation, Steven Spielberg expressed his admiration for Denis Villeneuve’s film. He praised Villeneuve as one of the few visionary filmmakers to join a select group, according to the legendary Oscar-winning director.

“This is truly a visual epic, and it’s also filled with deeply, deeply drawn characters. Yet the dialogue is very sparse when you look at it proportionately to the running time of the film. It’s such a cinema. The shots are so painterly, yet there’s not an angle or single setup that’s pretentious. You have made one of the most brilliant science fiction films I have ever seen.”

The podcast can be streamed in its entirety on Spotify. Starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh, Dune: Part Two is based on the novel by Frank Herbert. Zendaya’s next project is the sports drama film Challengers, scheduled to premiere on April 26, 2024.