Casual moviegoers might be familiar with Denis Villeneuve for the Dune franchise, but the filmmaker has long been lauded for his depth, precision, and casting decisions in some of the most acclaimed works. Take, for example, Emily Blunt in the 2015 action thriller Sicario, where her portrayal of a determined FBI agent captivated audiences with the balancing between fierceness and fragility.

Acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve. | image: Film at Lincoln Center.

According to Denis Villeneuve, he saw right through Emily Blunt’s ability to strike a balance between her femininity and brutality, after watching her previous works. And this particular skill is what landed her the iconic role. But while Villeneuve’s praise of Blunt’s femininity served her performance in Sicario, it might have led to an unexpected consequence to her role as Black Widow, had she landed it.

Denis Villeneuve Chose Emily Blunt for Sicario for Her Femininity and Vulnerability...