Josh Brolin recently voiced his thoughts on the Academy’s decision to overlook Denis Villeneuve, the visionary director behind Dune: Part Two, in the Best Director nominations for the 2025 Oscars. The sequel to the 2021 film continues the journey of Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, as he allies with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen to seek vengeance against those responsible for the downfall of his family. Brolin reprises his role as Gurney Halleck in this highly anticipated follow-up. Notably, he had previously stated that he might consider stepping away from acting if Villeneuve did not receive this honor.
In an Instagram post, Brolin addressed the Academy’s snub while acknowledging Villeneuve’s earlier comments. He expressed admiration for the film’s nominations in prestigious categories such as Best Picture, Cinematography, Visual Effects, Production Design, and Sound, but he questioned the rationale behind excluding Villeneuve from the Best Director category. Brolin emphasized that he believes Villeneuve and his team truly merit recognition for their exceptional work, which arguably surpasses that of the first installment. He concluded by noting his gratitude for being part of a project that continues to garner accolades. Here’s what he had to say:
“Just want to say congratulations on the ‘Dune’ best picture nomination, to Greig Fraser on cinematography, for best visual effects, for Patrice [Vermett] on production design and for sound. Apparently, I am going to quit acting because Denis Villeneuve didn’t get nominated. This is just how this thing works. It makes no sense to me. That’s okay. [Editor] Joe Walker and Denis, you deserve it. It’s an amazing film. It was even better than the first one. The people who have gotten accolades surely deserve it. Happy to be a part of it. Congrats everyone.”
Implications of Villeneuve’s Oscar Snub
Villeneuve’s Notable Omission
The absence of Villeneuve in the Best Director category contrasts sharply with the critical acclaim received by Dune: Part Two. His approach to expanding Frank Herbert’s vision through meticulous storytelling and visually stunning cinematography has been essential in crafting a richly layered narrative. The film’s earlier success—garnering ten Oscar nominations and winning six—makes this snub particularly noteworthy.
Brolin’s remarks underscore a growing frustration within the industry regarding how directors are recognized, especially when their films excel in other categories. In a statement made in November 2024, he reiterated his stance on the importance of recognizing Villeneuve, mentioning, “If the Academy Awards have any meaning whatsoever, they’ll recognize him.”Despite achieving significant success as a filmmaker, Villeneuve has only received one Oscar nomination for Best Director for his work on Arrival.
This incident raises questions about how the Academy evaluates directors whose projects are celebrated elsewhere. Villeneuve’s exclusion from a competitive field—featuring directors like Sean Baker (Anora), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), and James Mangold (A Complete Unknown)—may highlight a disconnect in recognizing individual excellence versus collective success. Nevertheless, anticipation remains high for Dune: Part Two to win in technical categories, following in the footsteps of its predecessor.
Analysis of Villeneuve’s Oscar Nomination Status
Discrepancy in Nominations and Recognitions
With Dune: Part Two receiving acclaim for its technical achievements and narrative depth, Villeneuve’s omission from the Best Director nominations appears particularly unjust. His artistry and precision have been central to the franchise’s success, and failing to recognize his contributions diminishes the overall acknowledgment of effective creative leadership in filmmaking. As the accolades pile up for the film, the glaring absence of recognition for its director remains a significant oversight in this year’s Oscar lineup. However, Villeneuve is still celebrated as one of the foremost directors working today. The question remains whether Brolin will indeed follow through on his commitment to quit acting in response to the snub.
Source: Josh Brolin/Instagram
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