Nicole Kidman Says She’s “Obsessed” With ‘Dune’ and Wants a Spot in the Franchise
Hollywood’s biggest stars rarely miss an opportunity to gush about the projects they wish they were part of, and few franchises inspire that kind of admiration quite like Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ saga. Between its sweeping visuals and stacked ensemble cast, it has become something of a dream ticket for actors watching from the sidelines.
Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock have been making the rounds lately promoting their own reunion project, the long-awaited ‘Practical Magic’ sequel. Along the way, the pair have fielded plenty of lighthearted questions about their careers, their friendship, and apparently, the franchises they’re still hoping to break into.
During one such conversation, Kidman made her feelings about ‘Dune’ impossible to miss. She said she’d love to be in the Dune sequel, calling herself a Dunie, saying she loves Dune, and admitting she’s completely obsessed with it, according to a report on the interview published by INYIM Media, which detailed the pair’s appearance on Vogue’s rapid-fire “Off the Cuff” series.
It’s not the first time Kidman has publicly professed her love for the franchise. Back in December 2024, during a conversation with Zendaya for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, Kidman already referred to herself using that same “Dunie” label, describing how she paid to see ‘Dune: Part Two’ at midnight in London while badly jet-lagged, saying she was riveted by the experience.
What makes Kidman’s enthusiasm notable is the timing. Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Part Three’ has already wrapped filming and is dated for a December 18 release, with returning stars including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh and Rebecca Ferguson locking in the cast well before Kidman’s latest comments made headlines.
Villeneuve has also been clear that this installment will be his final chapter in the franchise, closing the door on any obvious opportunity for late additions. That context makes Kidman’s wish feel more like an earnest fan confession than an actual bid for casting consideration.
The pair’s exchange reportedly touched on that awkward reality directly, with Bullock asking why Kidman wasn’t already part of the franchise given how much she clearly loves it. Kidman explained that Dune simply never asked her to be in anything, calling it devastating before admitting she’d honestly rather just stay in the audience anyway.
The conversation happened while Kidman and Bullock were busy promoting ‘Practical Magic 2,’ their own long-gestating sequel hitting theaters September 11. The pair reprise their roles as the Owens sisters nearly three decades after the original film became a cult favorite, joined by a cast that includes Joey King, Lee Pace and Maisie Williams.
Given how much time the two spent discussing another franchise entirely during their own press run, it’s clear Kidman’s ‘Dune’ fandom has become something of a running bit between the co-stars. Whether that enthusiasm ever translates into an actual role remains unlikely, especially with Villeneuve’s trilogy already closing out its story.
For now, fans will have to settle for imagining what a Kidman cameo might have looked like among the sandworms and spice of Arrakis. Given her track record of scene-stealing performances across genres, it’s easy to see why so many would have welcomed her into the world Villeneuve built.
Would you have liked to see Nicole Kidman join Denis Villeneuve's Dune franchise?
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