Warner Bros. is set to release a new adaptation ofDunefromArrivalandBlade Runner 2049director Denis Villeneuve. The studio releasedthe first official trailerfor Villeneuve’sDuneearlier this week and now a new video compares scenes from the preview to sequences from director David Lynch’s feature film adaptation.
Based on Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, Lynch’sDunestarred Kyle MacLachlan as lead character Paul Atreides along with an ensemble cast that included Virginia Madsen and Max Von Sydow. Released in December 1984 to negative reviews and poor box office figures, David Lynch disowned the theatrical cut ofDuneand stated thathe was denied creative control over the projectand final cut. As a result, some cuts of the film are credited to the pseudonym filmmakers often use when they do not want to be associated with a project: Alan Smithee.
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WhileDunehas earned a cult following since its release, fans of Herbert’s novel have varied opinions on the 1984 adaptation and Villeneuve has admitted to beingonly half-satisfied with Lynch’s version. The French-Canadian filmmaker finally got his own chance to adapt the novel with a new feature film adaptation from Warner Bros. that stars Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet in the role of Paul Atreides. Now, IMDB has posted a new video that compares scenes from both Lynch and Villeneuve’s versions ofDuneshot by shot to illustrate the visual similarities between both adaptations.
It’s easy to dismiss the new Dune as simply being a fresher version of the original’s visuals, but both trailers are pulling from the most dramatic moments of the novel: Paul training with Gurney, meeting the Fremen, running from a sand worm, being threatened with a Gom Jabbar. In fact, it’s likely the trailer was assembled specifically to play on the comparison, if only sofans of the first filmcould see that the new version wants to do right by the source material.
Production on Villeneuve’sDunetook place inlocations including Budapest, Hungary, Jordan, Norway, and Abu Dhabi. The new adaptation features an ensemble cast that includes Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. The film will cover the first half of Herbert’s novel as the first installment of a planned two-part adaptation.
Despite the visual similarities presented in the video, Villneueve and the crew put ina great deal of effortto bring their own vision of theDuneto life. Many fans of Herbert’s novel have suggested adapting the source material may be an impossible task and moviegoers could find out if their suspicions are true when Villeneuve’s take on the story hits theaters in December.
Of course, the release date forDunecould still be pushed back due to the domino effect caused by the COVID-10 pandemic. While Warner Bros. has not announced a release date change,the recent delay ofWonder Woman 1984could very well meanDunewill be pushed back in order to avoid competing with the DC film.
Duneis scheduled to be released in theaters on June 11, 2025.
