Josh Brolin has, once again, contemplated quitting acting for good after Denis Villeneuve didn't get nominated in this year's Academy Awards for Best Director for his work in Dune: Part Two. The actor, who played Gurney Halleck in both Dune movies, previously said that he would retire if Villeneuve didn't get his nomination.
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In classic Brolin fashion, the actor took to Instagram to post a story, bashing the Academy Awards while congratulating Dune: Part Two for securing five nominations.
"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," Brolin said, reported by Variety.
However, the positivity ended right then and there. Josh Brolin immediately began bashing the Academy over the Dune snubs.
"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," Brolin continued. "[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."
Dune Snubbed
This, however, is not the first time Josh Brolin has discussed quitting over Dune: Part Two and Denis Villeneuve not receiving the recognition they deserve. Back in November 2024, Brolin talked with Variety and said that he would, indeed, quit acting if Villeneuve was ignored by the Academy. The director was also not nominated for 2021's Dune.
"If he doesn't get nominated this year, I'll quit acting," Brolin told the outlet. "It was a better movie than the first one. 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."
Denis Villeneuve was, regrettably, not nominated for Best Director for his work in Dune: Part Two. Instead, the Academy nominated Sean Baker for Anora, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, Coralie Fargeat for The Substance, James Mangold for A Complete Unknown, and Jacques Audiard for the controversial Emilia Pérez. The latter was nominated for 13 awards, far more than the five nominations Dune: Part Two secured.
