The New Dune Is Shaping Up to Be a Must-See Movie of 2020, and Not Because of Its Star Wars Connection
Way back in 1984, David Lynch gave the world an all-time cult classic full of weirdness: Dune. Its effects may not have aged very well, but it’s hard to not watch Dune when you come across it, even if for a brief spell to remember how much fun it is to escape into and to see Sting’s codpiece.
As with all great movies with name recognition, a reboot is the course Hollywood studios take today to keep their release schedules full. And, if they’re lucky, strike gold and develop a franchise. Warner Bros. and Legendary are likely hoping for that with the upcoming new adaptation of Dune.
The New Dune Cast and Crew
Dune is not a reboot of Lynch’s classic. Based on the same novel, it’s a new adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction opus that takes place on the planet of Arrakis, where a valuable spice drug everyone in the galaxy wants exists. There are multiple sequels to the novel, making it perfect fodder for a Dune franchise if the new Dune resonates with moviegoers.
With Denis Villeneuve in Dune’s director chair, the odds are in everyone’s favor. He is after all the director behind Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival, so science fiction isn’t a new foray for him. And the cast of Dune is turning into an A-list affair.
The Dune cast includes:
- Jason Momoa (Duncan Idaho)
- Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica)
- Timothée Chalamet (Paul Atreides)
- Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck)
- Zendaya (Chani)
- Oscar Isaac (Duke Leto Atreides)
- Dave Bautista (Glossu ‘Beast’ Rabban)
- Javier Bardem (Stilgar)
- Stellan Skarsgård (Baron Harkonnen)
- Charlotte Rampling (Reverend Mother Mohiam)
The fun doesn’t stop with the Dune cast; the crew includes phenomenal talent, too. Greig Fraser of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Vice, Zero Dark Thirty, and Lion is on board as director of photography, Joe Walker (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, 12 Years a Slave) is editor, and Patrice Vermette (Arrival, Sicario, Prisoners, Vice) will have the daunting task of production designer, a role that can make or break Dune.
Dune Release Date Is Set
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, of which he wrote with Eric Roth and John Spaihts, begins filming in Spring 2019. Dune is set to release in theaters on November 20, 2020, in IMAX and 3D.
The director told Fandom that Dune is going to be a Star Wars for adults.
“Most of the main ideas of Star Wars are coming from Dune so it’s going to be a challenge to [tackle] this,” Denis Villeneuve said. “The ambition is to do the Star Wars movie I never saw. In a way, it’s Star Wars for adults. We’ll see.”
But don’t expect an Alejandro Jodorowsky inspired Dune, even if you want it to happen.
“…Jodorowsky is a very unique visionary. He has a very strong, unique vision. I am a total different human being,” Denis Villeneuve said. “It would be very presumptuous and arrogant for me to try. I would love to talk to him. I’ve wanted to meet him for a long time. I think he’s a fantastic filmmaker and I would have loved to see his Dune. I think it would be a very singular Jodorowsky movie. Will it have been the vision I have for Dune? Very far away. I mean, I am sure because he is so unique.”
As the Dune cast and crew near completion and filming is set to begin, we can all stand by and wait for November 2020 to see what vision Denis Villeneuve brings to his version of Dune. And what prime comment David Lynch is sure to make when he sees it.
