Javier Bardem reflects on ‘Monsters,’ avoiding Menendez brothers, and hints at future in ‘Dune 3’

Javier Bardem has had a dynamic year, from portraying the abusive José Menendez in Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story to his animated film debut in Spellbound. Bardem revealed his deep concern for his young co-stars during the emotionally challenging Monsters project. He ensured they remembered their reality beyond the grim story, advising them to separate their characters from themselves. Bardem admitted to avoiding direct contact with the Menendez brothers, focusing instead on the meticulous research provided by co-creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan.

Discussing his animated debut in Spellbound, Bardem shared how the film’s themes of love and family resonated deeply. The movie, directed by Vicky Jenson and featuring music by Alan Menken, captivated his children despite their initial frustration with his constant singing rehearsals. Bardem also teased fans about Dune 3, expressing hopes for a return and even jokingly demanding sword-fighting scenes to impress his son.

The actor praised director Denis Villeneuve as a "one-of-a-kind human being," fueling anticipation for Dune: Messiah, currently in development. Meanwhile, Bardem also voiced support for revisiting the Menendez brothers’ case if new evidence merits reconsideration.