Dune: 5 Reasons It Will Be A Massive Hit (And 5 Reasons It Will Flop)

Denis Villeneuve's last foray into sci-fi genre, 2017's Blade Runner 2049 was a technical masterwork of the highest caliber. When Villeneuve accepted the offer to direct a sequel to the beloved cult classic Blade Runner, many film buffs assumed that creating a satisfying sequel to the legendary film would be impossible.

Although it flopped upon its release in 1982, Blade Runner's futuristic production design and special effects proved massively influential. In the decades that followed every kind of artist from musicians, filmmakers, videogame creators, and even Elon Musk, claimed Blade Runner influenced their work. On top of this, film scholars consider the film's special effects among the greatest of all time.

Despite this daunting legacy of excellence, Villeneuve rose to the challenge. The technical achievements of his Blade Runner follow up are indisputable. Villeneuve brilliantly recreated the world of Blade Runner while expanding and updating it in manner that didn't feel at odds with the previous film. The Academy Awards nominated Blade Runner 2049 for best Cinematography, Special Effects, Film Editing, Sound Editing and Sound Mixing.

Now, Villeneuve will employ his considerable technical expertise with special effects to bring Frank Herbert's Arrakis to life. The most recent trailer gave audiences a taste of what's to come, presenting glimpses of a sci-fi world of startling depth and authenticity and, yes, giant freaking skyscraper-sized sandworms.