Josh Brolin recently reacted to Denis Villeneuve’s snub from the 2025 Academy Awards’ Best Director nominations for Dune: Part Two. The sequel to the 2021 blockbuster follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) when he unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Brolin portrayed Gurney Halleck in both Dune films. Despite the movie receiving critical acclaim, the actor previously commented about quitting acting if Villeneuve was not nominated for Best Director.

In a story posted to Instagram, Brolin addressed Villeneuve’s snub, even referencing his quitting acting comment. While praising the movie’s recognition in categories such as Best Picture, Cinematography, Visual Effects, Production Design, and Sound, he criticized the Academy’s decision not to nominate the director as illogical. He stated that Villeneuve and his team deserved acknowledgment for their work on what he considered an even better installment than the first. Despite this, Brolin expressed graтιтude for being part of a project that continues to receive accolades. Check out his comments below:

“Just want to say congratulations on the ‘Dune’ best picture nomination, to Greig Fraser on cinematography, for best visual effects, for Patrice [Vermett] on production design and for sound. Apparently, I am going to quit acting because Denis Villeneuve didn’t get nominated. This is just how this thing works. It makes no sense to me. That’s okay. [Editor] Joe Walker and Denis, you deserve it. It’s an amazing film. It was even better than the first one. The people who have gotten accolades surely deserve it. Happy to be a part of it. Congrats everyone.”

What This Means For Villeneuve’s Direction for Dune: Part Two

Denis Villeneuve Was Snubbed

Villeneuve’s omission from the Best Director category contrasts sharply with his previous nomination for Dune (2021), which secured ten Academy Award nominations and won six. His meticulous approach to Dune: Part Two expanded upon Frank Herbert’s books and world while pushing the boundaries of its visual storytelling. His leadership shaped the sequel into a critical and technical achievement, making his absence in the category particularly notable.

Moreover, Brolin’s reaction to Villeneuve’s snub points to the frustration over the director’s omission. In November 2024, the actor commented about quitting acting if the Dune director wasn’t nominated this time around for Best Director. This comes after Villeneuve was previously snubbed for a directing nomination for Dune: Part One. Brolin elaborated: “If the Academy Awards have any meaning whatsoever, they’ll recognize him.” Despite being one of the most in-demand filmmakers today, Villeneuve has only received one Best Director nomination for The Arrival.

Notably, the Academy’s decision also poses questions about how directors’ roles are evaluated when their projects dominate other categories. Villeneuve’s exclusion from a category that includes peers like Sean Baker (Anora), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), James Mangold (A Complete Unknown), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), and Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) might suggest a disconnect between recognizing individual direction versus a collective team effort. Nevertheless, Dune: Part Two has a strong chance of winning some technical categories like the first movie.

Our Take on Villeneuve’s Oscar Snub

Villeneuve’s Omission Does Not Align With His Previous Nomination

Villeneuve’s exclusion from the Best Director nominations feels inconsistent given Dune: Part Two’s critical acclaim and technical dominance. His vision anchors the franchise, and overlooking his efforts diminishes the recognition of the creative leadership that made the film possible. While Dune: Part Two’s multiple nominations showcase its excellence, the lack of acknowledgment for its director remains a glaring oversight in this year’s Oscars commemoration. However, Villeneuve remains one of the preeminent working directors today. Now, it is a matter of seeing if Brolin will hold his word on actually quitting acting.

Source: Josh Brolin/Instagram