As theaters once again continue in their efforts to reopen, we are seeing more studios readying themselves for new releases. Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is one of the latest to get a new trailer for its upcoming December 18 release. Rumor has it that if it does well, the Blade Runner 2049 director will make a sequel.
Oscar nominee Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival,” “Blade Runner 2049”) directs Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ “Dune,” the big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal bestseller of the same name.
Villeneuve directed “Dune” from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth based on the novel of the same name written by Frank Herbert. Villeneuve also produced the film with Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, and Joe Caracciolo, Jr. The executive producers are Tanya Lapointe, Joshua Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, and Kim Herbert.
Previous Versions
This will be the second theatrical take on the influential book series from Frank Herbert, with the last being from David Lynch in 1984. There was also a more expansive version done on the Sci-Fi Channel back in 2000. Another attempt back in the 1970s from Alejandro Jodorowsky resulted in a 2013 documentary about its journey and eventual end.
Cast
Something both the previous theatrical and TV versions shared was an impressive cast. From award-winning veterans to young and upcoming faces, they sought to define the massive amount of characters. This latest version is no different, even as it has changed some of them.
The film stars Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (“Call Me by Your Name,” “Little Women”), Rebecca Ferguson (“Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”), Oscar Isaac (the “Star Wars” franchise) Oscar nominee Josh Brolin (“Milk,” “Avengers: Infinity War”), Stellan Skarsgård (HBO’s “Chernobyl,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), Dave Bautista (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “Avengers: Endgame”), Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Fences,” “Lady Bird”), Zendaya (“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” HBO’s “Euphoria”), David Dastmalchian (“Blade Runner 2049,” “The Dark Knight”), Chang Chen (“Mr. Long,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”), Sharon Duncan-Brewster (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” Netflix’s “Sex Education”), with Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (“45 Years,” “Assassin’s Creed”), with Jason Momoa (“Aquaman,” HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), and Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Skyfall”).
It remains to be seen how successful this latest attempt will be. With such a deeply detailed and complicated story, the books present many challenges. Hopefully, Mr. Villeneuve’s ambitious vision will be able to translate them to the big screen.