Christopher Walken’s problem with Marvel films doesn’t seem like it is in the best interest of smaller films anymore

Christopher Walken joined Dune: Part Two as one of the new additions besides Austin Butler, Léa Seydoux, and Florence Pugh. The 80-year-old veteran actor plays the role of Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, the ruler of the Known Universe, in Denis Villeneuve’s epic sequel. While the casting and the actor’s performance deserve praise, not everyone is happy with his double standards. The actor previously criticized the big-budget Marvel movies while himself starring in the $190 million production of Dune 2.

Christopher Walken in a still from Dune: Part 2
Many called out the hypocrisy when Walken criticized Marvel films for hindering the performance of small-budget movies at the box office. When Walken made the remarks, he had already signed up for the Dune sequel.

Christopher Walken’s Comments Against Marvel Movies Show Him As A Hypocrite

Christopher Walken bashed the $200 million budget of Marvel movies
Christopher Walken was on a four-year-long hiatus from Hollywood movies, committing to TV projects like The Outlaws during this time. He returned to the big screen with Dune: Part Two, a film that is currently making a buzz at the box office. Set to make a huge money from the box office, the film invested a significant $190 million in the production budget. This figure is more than its predecessor’s $165 million budget.

While the movie showed the exceptional quality that justifies the budget, the high budget has called into question Christopher Walken’s previous remarks. In a previous interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Walken was asked to comment on the ongoing debate around Marvel movies. Walken was not in favor of the millions spent on these superhero films. According to Walken, these huge budgets could’ve been used to create a dozen more smaller movies.

He also vented about the current state of the industry where the smaller movies couldn’t find themselves a show in theaters. While the big-budget movies make the bucks at theatres, the Pulp Fiction actor shared that the smaller movies often end up going straight to the small screen. Walken explained to The Sydney Morning Herald:
“Nobody’s asked me to do a Marvel! But I think it’s too bad that with a movie that costs $200 million to make, you know, dozens of smaller movies could be made for that money. And then it’s too bad that if you make a movie now, it’s unlikely to be seen in a [cinema] unless it’s one of those big ones. The smaller movies more likely go straight to the small screen.”
Interestingly, the actor only seems to have a problem with Marvel movies. He has earlier auditioned for the role of Han Solo in the first Star Wars movie. Walken’s comments came out at a time when Martin Scorsese shared that Marvel films weren’t cinema, but more akin to “theme parks.” Director Francis Ford Coppola also agreed with Scorsese in this sentiment.

Christopher Walken Plays Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV In Dune: Part Two

Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV in Dune 2
According to the books written by Frank Herbert, Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV only had a major role in the first book, Dune. The character did not appear in the first film but pulled the strings off-screen for the events that happened in the film. The Emperor from House Corrino colluded with House Harkonnen to take out Duke Leto Atreides I and the House Atreides as they moved to Arrakis.

Walken entered into negotiations for the role in 2021 and was confirmed in the Emperor’s role in 2022 (via The Hollywood Reporter). Apart from the calculative and cunning villain in the film, the Emperor is also the father to Princess Irulan, played by Florence Pugh, who has a significant role in the story. Timothée Chalamet‘s Paul Atreides sets out to seek revenge against the Emperor by marrying the princess in the novel.

Dune: Part Two is currently running successfully in theaters. Dune is now available for streaming on Max.