Nicole Kidman has starred in everything from prestige dramas to blockbuster franchises, but apparently there is one major cinematic universe she desperately wishes had made room for her. The Oscar winner recently admitted that she is “obsessed” with Dune and was disappointed that director Denis Villeneuve never asked her to join his acclaimed sci-fi franchise. Because of her admission, however, the Tennessee-based actress came under fire online.
During an appearance on Vogue’s “Off the Cuff” with her Practical Magic 2 co-star Sandra Bullock, Kidman opened up about the projects she would still love to tackle. When the conversation turned to Dune, she made her feelings about Villeneuve’s films crystal clear. “I’m a ‘Dunie.’ Obsessed with Dune. I’m obsessed,” Kidman said. “Because Denis never asks me to be in anything. It’s devastating.”
Bullock immediately played along, looking toward the camera and encouraging Villeneuve to call her friend. “Call her,” Bullock mouthed before jokingly urging the filmmaker to cast Kidman. Kidman then appeared to walk back her complaint, saying she actually would prefer to remain a fan and watch the movies rather than become part of the cast. Bullock had one final warning: “You wouldn’t like the sand.”
The playful exchange quickly took a savage turn online, however, with some Dune fans questioning whether Kidman would actually fit Villeneuve’s famously visual and performance-driven style. One Reddit commenter bluntly declared, “The Botox ain’t helping her here,” arguing that Villeneuve’s movies often rely on actors conveying complicated emotions through subtle facial expressions.
Critics pointed out her jarring appearance in The Northman
Sadly, the online tirades didn’t stop at Kidman’s use of Botox. Another joked that Kidman could play a “creepy alien,” while others suggested roles ranging from a Bene Gesserit to a Guild Navigator or an Honored Matre. Some also made a pop culture joke about how Kidman’s facial surgeries can be immersion-breaking, quipping, “‘Botox is the scene-killer,'” in reference to Dune‘s iconic line.
The criticism also revived complaints about Kidman’s appearance in Robert Eggers’ The Northman, with some viewers claiming her look distracted them from the movie. “She totally took me out the Northman with her perfect teeth and expressionless face,” claims one commenter. Others pushed back against the pile-on, praising Kidman’s performances in films including The Others, To Die For, Moulin Rouge! and The Hours.
Thankfully, one commenter counterbalanced the divide by defending Kidman as “a great actress” while admitting that her recent appearance can distract some viewers. Whether Villeneuve ever changes his mind remains unclear. Dune: Part Three, which adapts Dune Messiah, is scheduled to hit theaters later in the year, completing Villeneuve’s planned trilogy, and it might be decades again before Kidman gets another consideration for a Dune role.
