What We Know So Far About Denis Villeneuve’s DUNE

Noetta Harjo

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Denis Villeneuve's Dune Logo

UPDATE: Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune release date was moved back a couple of weeks. And there are new character posters to ogle over until October.

There has been a lot of buzz about the casting of the reboot of Frank Herbert’s Dune. We here at GGA are definitely excited and will be covering all the breaking news surrounding the new Dune. Here’s a brief overview of what we know so far about Villeneuve’s reboot of the film.

TAKE FOUR

This will be the fourth attempt at adapting Frank Herbert’s Dune novel. The first was in the ’70s by Alejandro Jodorowsky, but his attempt never made it to the screen. David Lynch wrote and directed the first completed version in 1984, starring Kyle MacLachlan. The Syfy channel produced a three-part Dune miniseries in 2000 based on the novel. And there has been one sequel, Syfy’s Children of Dune, a combination of the second book, Dune Messiah, and the third book, Children of Dune, starring James McAvoy.

Dune will be split into two movies. Villeneuve produces with Mary Parent and Cale Boyter, with Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Thomas Tull and Kim Herbert serving as executive producers. Villeneuve is directing and co-writing the script with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts. The first movie filmed in Budapest, Hungary, and Jordan.

Hans Zimmer scored the film. Villeneuve has also enlisted the talents of cinematographer Greig Fraser (Rogue One), costume designers Jacqueline West (The Revenant) and Bob Morgan, production designer Patrice Vermette (Sicario), editor Joe Walker (Arrival) and creative consultant Kevin J. Anderson, who co-wrote the Dune prequel books

RELATED: Epic New Dune Posters Introduce You to the Key Players

Dune, Desert Planet

Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides in Dune
Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides in Dune. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Dune is set in the very far future. I’m talking millennia. The Padishah Emperor rules the universe, and a federation of the ruling houses is called the “Landsraad.” The House Atreides and House Harkonnen are a part of the Landsraad. Their rivalry is the foundation of the story that fuels jealousy, betrayal and retribution.

The hot commodity of the universe is a spice drug called “melange.” It is only found on one planet, Arrakis, and is used by everyone for various reasons. Spice consumption causes a person’s eyes to turn blue. At the beginning of the story, the Emperor sends House Atreides to take over the spice production from House Harkonnen. This move raises a lot of concern from other factions that rely on the spice and have political investments on the planet. This includes Bene Gesserit, Mentats and the Spacing Guild.

Left out of these conversations are the Fremen, the indigenous and nomadic people of Arrakis. Many among the Fremen see the arrival of the Atreides family as a sign of change. So when House Atreides falls, the Fremen help survivors Paul Atreides and his mother, Jessica. Paul rises as a religious and political leader among the Fremen and leads a rebellion that could have dire consequences throughout the universe.

The Cast

House Atreides of Dune
The House Atreides, Left to Right: Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Stephen Mckinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica Atreides, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck and Jason Momoa as Duncan IdahoPHOTO BY CHIABELLA JAMES

Timothée Chalamet was the first to be cast in the film as the lead character, Paul Atreides. Since then a slew of talent has boarded the Dune train, making it a highly anticipated film. Rebecca Ferguson was cast as Lady Jessica Atreides and Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Paul’s parents. The Atreides advisors are Josh Brolin as Gurney Hallack, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Stephen McKinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat and Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh. 

Charlotte Rampling plays Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, Jessica’s mentor and truthsayer to the Emperor. Stellan Skarsgård portrays House Harkonnen leader Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and Dave Bautista is play his nephew, Glossu “The Beast” Rabban. The only other House Harkonnen character announced is David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries

Rounding out the cast are the Fremen. Zendaya will play Paul’s love interest, Chani, Javier Bardem will portray the Fremen leader, Stilgar and Sharon Duncan-Brewster is Dr. Liet Kynes, Chani’s mother. Key characters who have not been announced yet are Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, Princess Irulan Corrino and Shadout Mapes.

The Fremen of Dune
Zendaya as Chani, Javier Bardem as Stilgar and Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Dr. Liet Kynes in Dune.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures/Vanity Fair

RELATED: Warner Bros to Have 2021 Movie Slate on HBO Max and in Theaters

Spin-Off

Dune has created such a buzz that there is now a spin-off series in the works. Dune: The Sisterhood will center on the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. The sisterhood plays a major part in the political gains and losses of the Landsraad. At the same time they are investing in the creation of a super-human, the Kwisatz Haderach. WarnerMedia picked up the series for the new streaming service HBO Max back in June, and the series will serve as a prequel to the film. Here’s the synopsis for the series:

“…told through the eyes of a mysterious order of women known as the Bene Gesserit. Given extraordinary abilities by their mastery of the body and the mind, the Bene Gesserit expertly weave through the feudal politics and intrigue of The Imperium, pursuing plans of their own that will ultimately lead them to the enigmatic planet Arrakis, known to its inhabitants as Dune.”

 There is no set cast or premiere date for Dune: The Sisterhood.

Great Expectations

It’s hard not to have expectations. The book has been around for 44 years, and the first Dune movie is considered a cult classic. There will be comparisons of the two films, but there shouldn’t be. Villeneuve told Indiewire that he has much respect for Lynch and the strong qualities of Lynch’s version of Dune, but it is not what he had dreamt of. “I’m trying to make the adaptation of my dreams. It will not have any link with the David Lynch movie… I’m going back to the book, and going to the images that came out when I read it.” 

I honestly think that fans of the movies need to forget what they have seen as well, and watch Villeneuve’s movie as if they are seeing the book come to life for the first time.

After several changes in the release date, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is scheduled to premiere on October 22, 2021. Keep an eye on Geek Girl Authority for all of the latest Dune news! 

RELATED: Read all of GGA’s Dune Coverage Here

Synopsis:

A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Trailers and Posters

 

 

 

Noetta Harjo
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