A few decades back leading movie stars would guarantee the success of a film, but nowadays the landscape seems very different. These days a movie star’s power is supplanted by the power of franchises, creating dark days for actors. Meanwhile, as people are talking about the end of the movie star era, Denis Villeneuve offers a startling statement about the rising stars.
Following the success of Dune: Part Two at the box office after its release on 1 March 2024, Denis Villeneuve touched upon the landscape of cinema. Asked about his opinions on the end of the movie star era, the director spoke fondly of the rising young stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh.
Controversies Surrounding the End of the Movie Star Era
Decades back, things were different in the entertainment industry, as A-listers like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Julia Roberts had enormous fame. They had immense command over the film’s success and the box office numbers, just by appearing in the movies. But nowadays, with a major shift in the landscape of cinema, it’s no longer the case.
These days, although big stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Downey Jr., and Leonardo DiCaprio exist; they are far from infallible. Nowadays actors can no longer guarantee the success of a film, for their star power has dwindled. Currently, it’s the era of franchises, where audiences are more loyal to films and the storyline than the actors appearing in them.
The dark days for movie stars are now being considered a controversial topic, as fans offer their argumentative opinion. With Brad Pitt’s films falling from grace, and Meryl Streep doing television shows, audiences no longer know what’s going on. Although young actors are rising to fame, netizens wonder if they are even comparable to veteran stars, who are failing to survive the competitive market.
Denis Villeneuve’s Startling Statement About the Future of Cinema
Offering his opinion on the controversial topic of the end of the movie star era, Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve shares a startling statement during his interview with THR. Following the success of his two Dune installments based on Frank Herbert’s epic 1965 sci-fi novel, starring rising young stars Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, Villeneuve spoke about the future of cinema in the hands of the young actors.
Addressing how it’s indeed difficult to compare the rising star’s position in the entertainment industry with the already established position of veteran stars, Denis Villeneuve claimed that in the next 10 years, the impact will be visible. Throwing light upon the red carpet event of Dune 2, where young actors like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler, and Florence Pugh stole the spotlight, Villeneuve claimed that the new generation is the future of cinema.
“It’s difficult to talk about this because it’s in motion and we don’t have distance. Maybe we will see the impact in 10 years, but yes, I believe in this new generation. They are very open, very wise, very skilled, and very playful. Timothée [Chalamet], Zendaya, Florence [Pugh], and Austin [Butler] play with the red carpet, and it’s stunning how they own that space. They are very authentic. They are not products. They are artists who own their own identities.”
“They also receive an incredible amount of demand and curiosity from young people. These actors bring out a lot of passion in teenagers and young adults, and I love the fact that they are bringing young people to the theaters. So they are the movie stars of the future, and they will talk to the new generation. This is the future of cinema.”
Working closely with the young actors in the two Dune installments, Denis Villeneuve developed a faith in the next generation. Implying that veteran actors are perhaps struggling because young audiences are connecting more with the rising stars, Villeneuve shared his opinion on the future of cinema. Considering the facts in his startling statement, it seems impossible for even old movie fans to argue or even deny Villeneuve’s reasoning.
