Culture 3 min read By Mason Emerson
Florence Pugh says Dune films revived moviegoing as "our generation's Star Wars
Florence Pugh says the Dune films have revived moviegoing and compares the franchise to Star Wars, as the trilogy heads toward its December 2026 finale.
Florence Pugh has described the Dune films as «our generation’s Star Wars», praising the franchise for bringing audiences back to cinemas. Speaking to The New York Times, the actress argued that the second film in Denis Villeneuve’s series had revived the communal experience of going to the movies, a claim that carries weight given the box-office stakes the franchise has faced since its debut.
The first Dune was released in October 2021, after a pandemic-related delay that pushed it back from its original schedule. Its sequel, Dune: Part Two, grossed more than $411 million at the box office. Pugh’s comparison places the series alongside the blockbuster that defined a previous generation of science-fiction fans, and she framed the trilogy as a shared event for viewers who came of age with it, a reading that reflects how often the films have been discussed as a communal experience rather than a niche release.
Pugh also tied the saga’s themes to the present day. She said Dune’s warning about authoritarian leaders speaks to current anxieties, a reading that follows the story’s central arc. Timothée Chalamet, who plays Paul Atreides, has similarly called the themes timeless and relevant to today, positioning the films as more than spectacle for the audiences drawn to them.
Dune: Part Three, the final chapter of Villeneuve’s trilogy, is due in cinemas on December 16, 2026. The film picks up with Paul Atreides now ruling the Imperium as emperor, a shift that places the hero of the earlier films in the position of the authority his struggle once opposed. Pugh returns as Princess Irulan, and Zendaya reprises her role as Chani, keeping the core cast of the earlier films intact for the conclusion.
Villeneuve’s next assignment is also drawing attention. He is set to direct the next James Bond film after completing Part Three, and casting for the role of the character’s new screen lead is underway following Daniel Craig’s departure. Rumoured shortlists have circulated, including names such as Jacob Elordi, Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult. Villeneuve has declined to comment on the casting process, saying he is enjoying the work, which means the speculation remains unconfirmed.
The Dune conversation also overlaps with other genre franchises. Andy Serkis is returning as Gollum in The Hunt for Gollum, a project he is also directing. Serkis has reflected on how performance capture is still misunderstood as a craft, a point that resonates with the large-scale visual effects that have become central to modern event cinema, and that places his return alongside the sci-fi and fantasy blockbusters Pugh has invoked.
Source: nme.com
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