‘Dune: Part 2’ Actor Blasts Academy for Snubbing Director: ‘Makes No Sense’

Dune: Part Two actor Josh Brolin slammed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for not nominating the film’s director Denis Villeneuve for its Best Director award, as he took to Instagram Thursday to tell his followers that the snub makes “no sense.”

Brolin congratulated the film’s cast and crew on its Best Picture nomination, as well as its nods for cinematography, production design, sound, and visual effects, but reiterated a comment he made in November that he would leave acting altogether if Villeneuve wasn’t nominated for Best Director.

“Apparently I’m going to quit acting because Denis Villeneuve didn’t get nominated,” Brolin says in the video posted to his Instagram Stories. He adds, “This is just how this thing works. Makes no sense to me.”

Brolin told Variety last November that if Villeneuve “doesn’t get nominated this year, I’ll quit acting.” The actor plays Gurney Halleck in Dune and Dune: Part Two, and seemed to agree with critics who gave its sequel better reviews than the first.

“It was a better movie than the first one,” Brolin said back then, “When I watched it, it felt like my brain was broken open. It’s masterful, and Denis is one of our master filmmakers. If the Academy Awards have any meaning whatsoever, they’ll recognize him.”

And recognize Villeneuve, they did not—in fact, though Dune earned 10 nominations last year, Dune: Part Two earned only five this time around. Brolin reacted on Instagram, “That’s OK. It’s an amazing film. I think it was even better than the first one. But the people who have gotten accolades sure deserve it and happy to be a part of it.”

All hope for Villeneuve’s taking home a statue isn’t lost, however. As a producer, he may would receive the award if Dune: Part Two wins Best Picture—an absurdly long shot at this point given its lack of support in other major categories.

The film is competing against Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked for the top prize.