Though it’s been brought to the big screen once before (by David Lynch in 1984) and as a mini-series in 2000 there’s always been something of a mythic quality about adapting the seminal works of author Frank Herbert and Dune, his tale of adventure, intrigue, falling spice empires and giant sand-worms. It’s influence is undeniable – both in story-elements and the people it’s brought together over the years, attempting to capture the tale’s scale and who went on to do other projects.
All of those story elements are on show here in a trailer for the forthcoming film, directed by Denis Villeneuve – the French Canadian film director and writer – which is due, COVID-permitting, to arrive in multiplexes this December.
Dune in the distant future and tells of the conflict between rival noble families as they battle for control of the extremely harsh desert planet Arrakis (known as ‘Dune’). The planet is the only source of the drug melange (‘spice’) which allows prescience and is vital to space travel, making it the most essential and valuable commodity in the universe. One family want to control it all… but their are forces allied against them…
As with the often criticised Lynchian vision (which boasted a cast including Kyle MacLachlan – in his film debut-, Patrick Stewart, Brad Dourif, Dean Stockwell, Virginia Madsen, José Ferrer, Sting, Linda Hunt, and Max von Sydow ), the new film also has an array of well-known names attached, including Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgard, Javier Bardem, David Dastmalchian, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Charlotte Rampling.
Fans and critics who have seen footage seem to think that this new version has got things right and the trailer certainly suggests ambition and scale and a rollicking story of intrigue.
Dune released by Warner Bros. arrives 18th December…
