The Oscars might have expanded the Best Picture category to 10 spots, but it still limits the nominees in other categories to just fivemaking for a more competitive race, but also resulting in inevitable snubs. Todays Academy Awards announcement brought a lot of glory to box-office hits Wicked and Dune: Part Two, but neither Best Picture nominee garnered recognition for their directors. That did not sit well with Dune star Josh Brolin, who stepped up to defend Denis Villeneuve. Dune fans will recall that while Villeneuve did get nominations in the Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay categories for 2022s Dune (it lost both to CODA), he was also passed over for Best Director that year. His only Best Director nomination to date came with 2017s Arrival (he lost to La La Lands Damien Chazelle). Brolin, who played Gurney Halleck in the Dune films and also collaborated on a pair of elaborate art book tie-ins, took to his Instagram stories to air his reaction to Villeneuves snub. As Variety reports, he recorded himself speaking directly to the camera: Just want to say congratulations to the Dune best picture nomination, to Greig Fraser for cinematography, for best visual effects, special effects, for Patrice [Vermett] for production design and for sound, I believe. He continued. Apparently, I am going to quit acting because Denis Villeneuve didnt get nominated. This is just how this thing works. It makes no sense to me. Thats okay. [Editor] Joe Walker, Denis Villeneuve, you deserve it. Its an amazing film. I think it was even better than the first one. But the people who have gotten accolades sure deserve it. Happy to be a part of it. Congratulations everyone. That reference to quitting acting echoes back to an interview Brolin did with Variety in November 2024 where he made the initial declaration: If he doesnt get nominated this year, Ill quit acting. It was a better movie than the first one. When I watched it, it felt like my brain was broken open. Its masterful, and Denis is one of our master filmmakers. If the Academy Awards have any meaning whatsoever, theyll recognize him. (The trade also notes that Brolin posted a similar social media message when Villeneuve was left off the Best Director list for the first Dune.)Presumably, therell be another chance to reward that hard work on Arrakis with Dune Messiah, said to be Villeneuves next project. If somehow Hollywoods Oscar voters drop the ball again, head straight to Brolins Instagram to commiserate. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.