Frank Herbert’s novel Dune, published in 1965, is widely considered to be one of the best science fiction sagas ever, winning several awards in the 60s and having multiple adaptations over the years. Herbert’s epic series has inspired many fan favorites since its publishing, including, but not limited to, George Lucas’s Star Wars saga. The beloved series still has roots in popular culture and has influenced many works of fiction to this day.
Set in a future in which humans inhabit different planets, the protagonist, Paul Atreides, hails from one of the galaxy’s most influential families. His family moves to the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, to oversee the production of melange or “the spice,” a multipurpose and very powerful drug. However, Paul and his family must fight to protect the spice and themselves from rival houses and the native inhabitants of Arrakis, the sandworms. Paul must come to terms with his own budding abilities while he uncovers secrets about the politics and beliefs of the world he is living in.
After a few failed attempts at adapting this novel into a film, director and writer Denis Villeneuve, known recently for Arrival (2016) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017), has taken on the challenge with two separate films planned to cover the first novel in the series. The first movie is scheduled to be released on December 18, 2020, assuming it will not be postponed as many others have been due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Villeneuve has brought in an all-star cast to bring this story to life in theaters. Timothée Chalamet will star as Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica (Paul’s mother), and Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides (Paul’s father). Other actors include Zendaya (Chani), Stellan Skarsgard (Baron Vladimir), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Liet-Kynes), Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck), Jason Momoa (Duncan Idaho), Dave Bautista (Glossu Rabban), Javier Bardem (Stilgar), and more.
Many are waiting to see for themselves if the curse of the Dune adaptation will haunt this film as well, but I’m holding out hope for Villeneuve’s film. With this incredible story, Villeneuve’s recent hit films, and the overly talented cast, this movie is sure to be an adventure.