“One Of The Greatest Sci-Fi Stories Ever Told” & Pop Culture’s Next Big Obsession! Check Out The First Official Look At Warner Bros Pictures, Dune!
Written & edited by John Darius
For those unaware of what the story Dune may be about, here’s a small rundown to get you started:
Synopsis:
(Photo edited by Team JVS)
Filled with an awe-inspiring cast involving some of the most iconic names imaginable: Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Issac, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Stellen Skarsgard, Javier Bardem, Jason Momoa, David Dastmalchian, & many more! This new reimagining of what is looked at by many to be “One Of The Greatest Sci-Fi Stories Ever Told!” has acted as not only a great influence, but also blueprint to some of the most well-loved & popular sci-fi films ever witnessed in cinema history. That being: Alien, Terminator, Blade Runner, The Matrix, & Star Wars. While even going as far as to becoming a major inspiration to other well-known properties as well. Most notably: George R.R. Martin’s Game Of Thrones!
(Photo edited by JVS)
Fans of the novel have been eager for more details ever since production was announced, & so far the reactions have been nothing but positive across the board.
Warner Brothers has been fairly quiet in revealing anything revolving the film, giving that the two previous incarnations that have come before it just weren’t met with much high praise by critics and fans. Specifically, David Lynch’s 1984’s feature, & the 2000 mini tv series that ran for about two seasons on the highly popular television network Syfy.
Both these incarnations have been for the lack of a better word… disappointing to say the least. But, what gives me hope that this new incarnation has a chance at succeeding where the others have failed, is the simple fact that we now finally have a true visionair at the helm this time with Denis Villeneuve. A director who’s proven more than once to be an absolute mastermind behind the camera. Giving us some of the utmost mind-inducing stories in the last decade with: 2015’s Sicario, 2013’s Enemy, 2016’s Arrival, & most notably 2017’s Blade Runner 2049. A sequel that many would add to have even managed to surpass the original 1982’s film titled Blade Runner. Directed by Ridley Scott.
(Image via Vanity Fair)
This example alone factored in with not only the amazing cast gathered at the forefront, but also an incredible cinematographer in Greg Fraiser who’s done work on Disney’s Star Wars: Rouge One, & is also currently working on the upcoming Batman film set to be directed by Matt Reeves, should be enough of a reason at the very least, to get anyone remotely excited in what to come with this new epic franchise!
If that’s not enough, it was announced earlier last year that oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer has also been said to be working on the musical score for the upcoming film stating:
Zimmer’s best known for a wide variety of well loved films going as far back as to 1994’s Lion King, 2000’s Gladiator, 2010’s Inception, & most notably: The Dark Knight Trilogy directed & produced by Christopher Nolan.
This movie couldn’t have come at a better time. Especially given the fact that Star Wars, one of the most popular franchises in pop culture history, has finally concluded it’s long episodic run late last December with Star Wars Episode 9: Rise Of The Skywalker.
(Image via Entertainment Weekly)
Earlier this January, it was also announced exclusively by EW, that a graphic novel written by the son of Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson is also said to be in the works, and set for an October release later this year. It’s likely this maybe an attempt by Warner Brothers to help in preparing first-timers that maybe coming into the franchise, in better understanding the complexity of this mind-bending story. A smart move by the studio, and is sure to give the film an even much bigger following once December hits!
(Image via Vanity Fair)
Vanity Fair was lucky enough to get their hands on a exclusive first look at the upcoming film. Presented with the chance of not only interviewing the cast & director earlier this week, but also revealing more details of the overarching plot, it’s large variety of characters, & what we mostly can expect to see going into this newly well-crafted cinematic universe!
Determined to adapt a novel that is far off of anything we’ve seen before, & has been looked at by many to be nearly impossible to bring to screen, director Denis Villeneuve has made it his primary goal in wanting to be the first in not just breaking that wall, but also help in introducing readers and general audiences alike to a world that has only, up until now existed as a dream through the minds of many longtime fans.
(Image via DailyHive)
The universe of Dune in itself is so vastly rich with such a dense & incredible mythology, that Villeneuve himself has stated that he wouldn’t even had agreed to adapt the novel unless it was to be done in two parts:
“I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie,” says Villeneuve. “The world is too complex. It’s a world that takes its power in details.”
For Villeneuve, the story of a planet & its people that has been brutally enslaved & exploited for it’s minerals for hundreds of years plays as almost a spitting image of the reality many of us live in today. Believing that right now, we are in the middle of a similar crisis of our own that can very well be the starting point for our extinction as we know it.
“No matter what you believe, Earth is changing, and we will have to adapt,” says Villeneuve.
“That’s why I think that Dune, this book, was written in the 20th century. It was a distant portrait of the reality of the oil and the capitalism and the exploitation—the overexploitation—of Earth. Today, things are just worse. It’s a coming-of-age story, but also a call for action for the youth.”
Timothee Chalamet plays lead & main protagonist Paul Atredies. A boy who at the beginning of our story is struggling to find his place in a broken society ruled by nothing but corrupt politicians and religious leaders
Talking with Variety on his experience filming the project, Chalamet shares:
“It was really surreal. There are these Goliath landscapes, which you may imagine existing on planets in our universe, but not on Earth.”
Speaking more on his character, Chalamet says:
“The immediately appealing thing about Paul was the fact that in a story of such detail and scale and world-building, the protagonist is on an anti-hero’s-journey of sorts,”
“He thinks he’s going to be sort of a young general studying his father and his leadership of a fighting force before he comes of age, hopefully a decade later, or something like that.”
(Zendaya as Chani)- [Image via Vanity Fair]
Another well known name we’ll be seeing take center stage very soon & co-starring alongside Chalamet, is none other than the talented & beautiful Zendaya, who’s best known for her most recent work as Rue Bennett in one of HBO’s most popular drama series this year Euphoria! Playing the beloved Fremen known by the name of Chani, & love interest to heir and young duke Paul Atredies. Not much else was revealed on her character as of right now, but we can assume she’s most certainly sure to play a pivotal role in the overall plot moving forward.
Next up, playing the ever graceful but deadly warrior priestess Lady Jessica is the stunning & brilliant Rebecca Ferguson. Wife to Duke Leto Atreides, mother to heir Paul Atreides, & member of the powerful but sinister Bene Gesserit. A cult of women gifted with the abilities of not only reading minds, but also controlling others with the sound of their voice, & manipulating the very balance of power in the universe.
Ferguson has gone on to describe her character as:
“She’s a mother, she’s a concubine, she’s a soldier. Denis was very respectful of Frank’s work in the book, [but] the quality of the arcs for much of the women have been brought up to a new level. There were some shifts he did, and they are beautifully portrayed now.”
Most well loved for her iconic role in the Mission Impossible film series as former British Intelligence operative Ilsa Faust, Ferguson has quickly become one of THE most in-demand and hardest working actresses in Hollywood right now. I don’t think Villeneuve could have found a much more talented & well versed individual in helping bring such a larger than life character to the big screen than her. A casting choice that is in every way what I would call, Literal Perfection at it’s finest!
One major change made to the source material that I think maybe worth noting is actress Sharon Duncan-Brewster, who will be joining this epic ensemble as ecologist Dr. Liet Kynes. Known widely by book readers to be one of the most prominent male figures within the novels. Villeneuve wanted to ensure that with his modern take, the characters this time around would have a much more grounded reflection of the current world we live in now.
Speaking on these changes, Brewster states:
“What Denis had stated to me was there was a lack of female characters in his cast, and he had always been very feminist, pro-women, and wanted to write the role for a woman,”
“This human being manages to basically keep the peace amongst many people. Women are very good at that, so why can’t Kynes be a woman? Why shouldn’t Kynes be a woman?”
As I’ve mentioned before, this has easily got to be THE most dominant cast we’ve seen gathered together yet! Making the anticipation for this film at an all time high! I for one am very excited to see how it all comes together once it’s finally all done, & ready for release.
(Image via Vanity Fair)
Given the recent coronavirus outbreak that has plagued our world these last few months, studios everywhere have been forced to push back production for dozens of films as of late. Leading many fans to speculate that Dune might be next inline, but so far everything seems to be right on schedule.
Speaking on the recent outbreak, Villeneuve mentions:
“Dune was made by people from all over the world. Many of these people are like family to me, and they’re very much in my thoughts,”
“I’m so proud to showcase their hard work. I look forward to a time when we can all get together again as Dune was made to be seen on the big screen.”
It’s likely we may get more info on the status of things in next coming months since it’ll be a while before theaters open again, but rest assured that once this film is out, it is bound to take the world by storm! Be prepared!
That’s all the details today, and we’ll make sure to keep you all posted as more news comes! Be sure to check out more of our other articles throughout our website or our youtube channel TeamJVS. Hope you all have a good day, Be safe out there, and see ya’ll next time!