The sci-fi blockbuster wouldn’t be what it is today if it wasn’t for Steven Spielberg. But as well as continuing to contribute to the genre – including with his upcoming alien conspiracy thriller Disclosure Day – the master filmmaker is keeping an eye on other directors’ works too. Among them, one stands particularly tall: Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films. And it sounds like Spielberg will be in line with the rest of us for Part Three this December.
“Recently, I’ve loved the Dune movies. They are among my favourite science-fiction movies, not just recently, but of all time. Especially the second film,” he tells Empire in a major new interview. “I think [Part Two] is the best movie Denis has ever made. I cannot wait to see the third one. I’m sure he’ll show it to me early. I’m such a fan of his.” He likens Villeneuve’s treatment of the Frank Herbert source material to the approach another modern master recently made with a literary adaptation. “I love the [Dune] books, and I just think his tribute to the books is like Guillermo [del Toro]’s tribute to Mary Shelley with Frankenstein: he honoured Mary Shelley as I think Denis honoured Frank Herbert,” says Spielberg.
It’s not just sci-fi that’s captured the legendary director’s attention; he’s been wowed in the horror arena too. “I haven’t directed a horror film yet, and I’ve always wanted to, and someday I may. But there have been some great horror films out already that satisfy that itch,” he says. Chief among them? The latest work from Zach Cregger. “When I see a great horror film like Weapons, I don’t have an itch I need to scratch. I see Weapons, and it doesn’t make me want to make a horror film that’s as scary or scarier than Weapons. It satisfies me so completely, it actually arrests my desire to someday make a really, really scary movie.” Aunt Gladys will be thrilled.
The new issue of Empire features a major new Steven Spielberg interview, on his lifelong sci-fi obsession, his legendary contributions to the genre, and how it all culminates in his new original feature, Disclosure Day. Plus, we sit down with the Disclosure Day cast – Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson – and screenwriter David Koepp to get the first word on the summer’s most top-secret blockbuster. Find the Steven Spielberg issue on newsstands from Thursday April 9. Pre-order a copy online here. Disclosure Day comes to cinemas from June 12.