Quentin Tarantino refuses to watch Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’: “I don’t need to see that story again”

Director Quentin Tarantino has publicly stated he has no interest in watching Denis Villeneuve’s adaptations of Dune, despite their critical acclaim.

Speaking on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, Tarantino revealed his reluctance stems from having seen the 1984 version by David Lynch and feeling “no need” to revisit the storyline. “I don’t need to see that story again,” he said, noting a particular disinterest in “spice worms” and what he describes as an overemphasis on “the word ‘spice’ so dramatically.”

While clarifying that his lack of interest isn’t directed personally at Villeneuve, Tarantino criticized the trend of Hollywood remakes, expressing similar indifference toward other retold stories like Ripley and Shōgun. He mentioned he watched Shōgun in the 1980s and does not need to see it again, even if it were remade.

Despite Tarantino’s dismissal, Villeneuve’s Dune films have garnered widespread praise, with director Steven Spielberg even commending Villeneuve as one of the best world-building filmmakers. Spielberg praised Dune as a monumental achievement, placing Villeneuve among iconic directors like George Lucas and Stanley Kubrick. Tarantino, however, remains resolute, preferring original stories over remakes of stories he’s already seen.