The Astronaut's Son: 5 Ways Duncan Jones Is Carrying David Bowie's Creative Legacy In 2025

The legacy of David Bowie, the iconic Starman, continues to orbit the cultural universe, and at its center is his son, filmmaker Duncan Jones. As of December 2025, Jones is not just the custodian of his father's memory; he is a formidable creative force in his own right, actively shaping the future of science fiction cinema while keeping the spirit of the Thin White Duke alive through deeply personal projects and tributes. This article explores the latest updates on Duncan Jones's life and career, revealing how the director of *Moon* and *Source Code* is honoring his father's creative, intellectual, and familial legacy in the mid-2020s. The father-son relationship between the rock legend and the critically acclaimed director was one built on a mutual love of film, science fiction, and a shared, quiet intensity. Jones, who was born Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones, initially used the name "Zowie Bowie" before reverting to his preferred name to forge his own path in the film industry. However, the connection is indelible, and in recent years, Jones has found profound ways to weave his father's influence into his own work and public life, ensuring the Bowie spirit remains a vibrant part of the current cultural conversation.

Duncan Jones: A Complete Biography and Profile

Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones is a British film director, producer, and screenwriter, best known for his distinctive contributions to the science fiction genre. He is the only child from David Bowie's first marriage to American model and actress Angela "Angie" Barnett.

• Full Name: Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones
• Date of Birth: May 30, 1971
• Place of Birth: Bromley, London, England
• Parents: David Bowie (Father) and Angela "Angie" Barnett (Mother)
• Stepmother: Iman (married to David Bowie from 1992 until his death)
• Half-Sister: Alexandria "Lexi" Zahra Jones (Daughter of David Bowie and Iman)
• Spouse: Rodene Ronquillo (m. 2012)
• Children: Stenton David Jones (Son, b. July 2016) and Zowie Tala Mabsie Jones (Daughter, b. April 2018)
• Education: The College of Wooster (Philosophy), Vanderbilt University (Ph.D. studies, unfinished), London Film School (M.A. in Film Directing)
• Notable Films: Moon (2009), Source Code (2011), Warcraft (2016), Mute (2018)

1. Directing the Next Sci-Fi Blockbuster: The 'Rogue Trooper' Film Update

The most significant and current update in Duncan Jones’s professional life is the highly anticipated adaptation of the classic British comic, Rogue Trooper. This project marks a return to the science fiction genre that defined his early career and is currently slated for a 2026 release, with production updates arriving throughout 2025. The film is set to be an animated sci-fi epic, a format that allows Jones to fully embrace the visual complexity of the source material.

The latest news surrounding the film reveals an exciting ensemble cast, including Aneurin Barnard as the titular genetically engineered soldier and Hayley Atwell. The inclusion of New Zealand actor Jemaine Clement (known for his work in Flight of the Conchords and Avatar: The Way of Water) further elevates the project's profile. Jones is co-producing the film with his longtime collaborator, Stuart Fenegan, highlighting the continued partnership that has defined his successful directorial efforts, from the low-budget brilliance of Moon to the blockbuster scale of Warcraft.

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2. The Intellectual Legacy: The Active David Bowie Book Club in 2025

In a deeply personal and intellectual tribute to his father, Duncan Jones launched the "David Bowie Book Club," a communal project dedicated to reading through the 100 books that David Bowie cited as his favorites. Bowie was known as a "beast of a reader," and the club serves as a window into the literary influences that shaped his music and philosophy.

The club remains highly active in 2025, demonstrating the enduring intellectual curiosity that Jones inherited from his father. Recent and upcoming readings for the year, as documented by the club's community, include challenging and influential works such as *Tales of Beatnik Glory* by Ed Sanders (July 2025) and *Blast (issue 1)* edited by Wyndham Lewis (December 2025). This ongoing project allows fans and scholars alike to connect with the 'Thin White Duke' through his reading list, fostering a sense of community that transcends a typical celebrity tribute.

3. The Filial Legacy: Naming David Bowie's Grandchildren

Perhaps the most touching and lasting tribute to David Bowie is the way Duncan Jones has honored his father through his own family life. Duncan and his wife, photographer Rodene Ronquillo, have two children, both of whom carry names that pay homage to their famous grandfather.

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Their first child, a son born in July 2016, was named Stenton David Jones. The inclusion of "David" is a direct, loving nod to his father's birth name, David Robert Jones. Two years later, their daughter was born, and her name, Zowie Tala Mabsie Jones, is a clear reference to Duncan's own birth name, Zowie, which David Bowie had given him. The birth of his first son came just six months after David Bowie's death, providing a bittersweet moment of continuity and hope, ensuring the Bowie line of 'Star-Kids' continues.

4. Preserving the Artistic Integrity: The Biopic Stardust Controversy

As the primary guardian of his father's artistic integrity, Duncan Jones has been vocal about protecting David Bowie's creative catalog. This was most evident in his public stance against the unauthorized 2020 biopic, *Stardust*. Jones made it explicitly clear that the film, which chronicled a period of his father's early career, did not have the family's blessing or approval.

Crucially, Jones confirmed that the filmmakers had not secured the rights to use any of David Bowie's original music. This public declaration served as a powerful statement that the family maintains strict control over the use of Bowie's intellectual property, ensuring that any future, authorized project will be handled with the respect and artistic vision that the icon deserves. This protective stance is a key part of Jones’s stewardship of the Bowie legacy.

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5. The Creative Universe: Expanding the 'Moon' and 'Mute' Timeline

Beyond his major film projects, Duncan Jones is actively expanding the self-contained science fiction universe he established with his critically acclaimed films *Moon* (2009) and *Mute* (2018). This interconnected narrative world, often referred to as the 'Mooniverse,' is a hallmark of his unique directorial voice.

In a recent creative endeavor, Jones has detailed a new graphic novel project called *Madi: Once Upon A Time In The Future*. Co-written with Alex de Campi, this graphic novel is set within the same universe as his films, providing new stories and visual depth to his established sci-fi mythology. This commitment to world-building demonstrates Jones’s own enduring creative drive and his dedication to the genre that both he and his father loved, ensuring his own creative star continues to burn brightly, entirely independent of his famous parentage.