Posted on 11/21/2016 7:35:08 PM PST by DCBryan1
In the history of science fiction literature, few novel series have reached the upper echelon of belovedness quite the way Frank Herbert’s Dune has. The incredibly dense, richly populated space opera is considered by many to be the best science fiction novel ever written, winning all kinds of awards upon its release in 1965. There has to date been a single feature film of the work–David Lynch’s head-scratching, though undeniably visually arresting, 1984 effort–but save a Syfy miniseries in the early-2000s, Dune has remained nigh-unfilmable…until now! Deadline is reporting that Legendary Pictures has reached an agreement with the Herbert estate for the film and TV rights to the classic novel.
Details are scant at the moment, but Legendary Pictures will be turning the novel series into a film franchise, with the hopes of it becoming a full-on saga like Star Wars or Star Trek. The agreement calls for the development and production of possible film and television projects for a global audience.
The novel tells the story of Paul Atreides, whose family accepts control of the planet Arrakis, a desert world which is the sole producer of an incredibly valuable spice. Hence, the world is heavily contested by all the galaxy’s ruling families. After his family is betrayed, Paul goes on a journey of religion, politics, and communing with nature as he realizes his true potential and leads a rebellion to retake control of the world.
Dune has been the holy grail of science fiction film projects. Lynch’s disowned film version was the aftermath of a lengthy pre-production process for an ultimately aborted film by surrealist filmmaker, Alejandro Jodorowsky. That would have been a four-hour affair, with concept art by people like French comic artist Moebius and Alien screenwriter Dan O’Bannon, and starring disparate people like Salvador Dali and Orson Welles. The saga of that woulda-been film is brilliantly depicted in the documentary, Jodorowsky’s Dune.
With movies coming out that look as visually interesting as Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets and Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and with a plot that seems like an intergalactic Game of Thrones, Dune has the potential to be a true sci-fi opus, and in multiple media, considering the film and television contract. Maybe a Marvel-like cinematic universe? Time will tell. Let us know what you think about this Dune in the comments below!
Agreed. Very cheesy in many aspects (the costume designer should've been shot), but the guy who plays Paul Atreides was great and the Baron was a real hoot.
It is actually an improvement on Lynch’s version. The acting is not great in either one.
The $pice must flow.
Can you IMAGINE how &@$%ed up THAT would have been though?
CGI has now reached the point where any imagined scenario, no matter how fantastical, can be achieved and presented in the highest quality on film... Hopefully they will do it justice.
I actually liked the movie. Preferred its more positive ending compared to the novel’s.
So you're saying that the Milliner's Guild won't be one of the most powerful forces in the empire?
I'm waiting for Doon to be made into a movie.
While Dune was a good read it didn’t translate very well to the big screen. A Dune TV show wouldn’t fare any better.
As the wisdom of years descends upon me I can say to you “We like what we like and we love what we love.”
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a movie even if some of its messages contradict what conwe believe.
Despite its flaws, Lynch’s “Dune” (the long version he disavowed) remains one of my favorite films.
The first Dumenmove was a disaster. I cannot find fault with the Afros, I blame first the diroctor. The special effects, and the producers. They had no vision and no fealty to Frank Herbert’s fiction series.
Yes, I thought Lynch’s film got the spirit of the book right. It wouldn’t be impossible to remake Dune well - but the slightest hint of modern political correctness would destroy any new film instantly.
I kinda like the ‘84 movie as a very well done turkey. I like most of the cast and the “tech” is 19th century looking, unusual for a SF movie. SF movies usually look typically “trendy” for whatever decade they were filmed in, ie: the “used car” look in science fiction movies post-Star Wars.
Kinda like to see crazy Jodorowsky get a chance to do his version, since he’s been obsessed with doing a Dune movie for decades, but that’ll never happen (and if it did would probably make Lynch’s version seem clear and comprehensible).
There is actually a version floating around online that is a combination of two different edits of the movie with some of the tv series mixed in. I always thought the disturbing creepiness of the entire thing is what makes it stand out.. I can see why some would absolutely hate it though..
Re watched it lately and didn’t realize the Captain from Das Boat was Pauls Dad...
One of the worst movies ever made. Ed Wood had legitimate excuses, he was crazy and had no money. David Lynch can only claim the first. There was a British television version that did the novel some credit. But the big screen version was awful.
A new version would never allow for Kenneth McMillan’s tour-de-force as the Baron Harkonnen in all his gloriously evil, sadistic and corpulent faggot degeneracy. His successor in the tv series was a non-entity and wimp (almost as bad as the Sci-Fi channel remake of “Flash Gordon” with a completely defanged and unrecognizable Ming, an utterly shameful embarrassment and testament to PC cleansing).
I would though, like to see an (English language) adaptation of "The Three-Body Problem".
Most of the key plot points in Dune happen inside people's heads, with what they are secretly thinking and plotting. No amount of CGI can show that.
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