The nuclear war genre has long been a staple in Tinseltown, with filmmakers putting their own unique spin on the catastrophic scenario. And, when it comes to nuclear, not discussing last year’s Oppenheimer will not do us any favors. Whether it is the ocean eyes of Cillian Murphy or Ludwig Göransson’s relentless score, the film is clearly one of Christopher Nolan’s greatest works. 

And it appears that Denis Villeneuve is following in Nolan’s footsteps, as the former may have found his next project in the same genre. The Dune director and Legendary are in talks to collaborate on an adaptation of Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario.

That being said, we are eager to see if Villeneuve’s approach to this dreaded topic will pose a serious threat to Oscar winner Oppenheimer.

Dune Director Denis Villeneuve to Helm Nuclear War Movie?

Denis Villeneuve has been experiencing a creative boom throughout his career, and now his recent Dune: Part Two is also coming up as one of the biggest blockbusters from the 2024 film schedule. It seems that Villeneuve and the production company Legendary Entertainment have finally found a project for their first post-Dune 2 movie, one that both horrifies and intrigues us.

According to a report via Deadline, Legendary Entertainment has optioned the non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen, with the possibility of reuniting with Villeneuve. The deal is valued at “$500,000 against $1.5 million”. Villeneuve is expected to take on this as yet another massive project after completing Dune: Messiah.

A third film in Villeneuve’s Dune series, based on the works of science fiction author Frank Herbert, is presently in development at Legendary and Villeneuve. Dune: Part Two has now grossed over $250 million at the domestic box office, making it the highest-grossing film of last year (Box Office Mozo).

Nuclear War’s development comes on the heels of Universal’s Oppenheimer, with Christopher Nolan’s film about the creation of the atomic bomb winning seven Oscars and grossing more than $950 million worldwide (Box Office Mozo).

Villeneuve recently disclosed to The Hollywood Reporter that he is balancing several possible projects, one of which is his long-awaited Cleopatra film. The director stated that he is not in a rush to begin work on Dune 3 and that the timeline of the project depends on finding the ideal screenplay.

If that is the case, we are both anxious and thrilled to see what the Prisoners director can do with the Nuclear War flick.

Predicting Box Office Showdown: Denis Villeneuve vs. Christopher Nolan in Nuclear War Genre

Few filmmakers can capture the intensity and complexities of a subject like nuclear war. The next film from the talented director Denis Villeneuve, who is best known for movies like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, will address this challenging subject. With this bold move, Villeneuve seems to be presenting a solid threat to Christopher Nolan’s film about J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Yes, there is no doubt that Nolan’s historical and moral analysis of Oppenheimer’s contribution was fascinating. But Villeneuve’s film has the potential to rival Nolan’s cerebral storytelling in terms of raw emotional impact because of the former’s ability to fully immerse audiences in the heartbreaking consequences, just like he did with Prisoners and Sicario.

Villeneuve has established himself as a master of world-building and emotional depth, while Nolan is known for his astounding storytelling and grandiose images. And with a subject as weighty as nuclear war, his distinctive style may offer an eerily realistic depiction of the devastation and disarray that come with such a catastrophic event.

While the ending of Dune: Part Two alluded to people using major weapons against one another during a war, the film’s primary focus was on the characters it depicted. But in a more grounded setting, the film Nuclear War can focus on the far-reaching consequences of these weapons. Similar to Oppenheimer, it could explore a terrifying hypothetical world in which nuclear weapons are used against one another.

Anyway, movie buffs can anticipate a terrifying and unforgettable trek through the horrors of nuclear war when Villeneuve’s movie comes to the big screen. It looks like Nolan has some serious competition on his hands.

Oppenheimer is streaming on Peacock Premium.