Skip to main content

Denis Villeneuve explains why Dune had to be adapted into two movies

Director Denis Villeneuve said one movie just wasn’t enough to do justice to Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic novel Dune.

“I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie,” Villeneuve told Vanity Fair in an in-depth preview of his upcoming blockbuster. “The world is too complex. It’s a world that takes its power in details.”

Recommended Videos

#DUNE FIRST LOOK: Oscar Isaac is Duke Leto, father of Paul and head of House Atreides.

See more from @Breznican's film preview: https://t.co/ubFGRO3FWu pic.twitter.com/X6nNB4YAYC

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) April 14, 2020

The Sicario and Arrival director is helming the star-studded adaptation of the seminal novel, which tells the story of a young nobleman who finds himself thrust into conflict on the desert planet Arrakis after rivals target his family. The big-budget cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Oscar Isaac, and Rebecca Ferguson.

Warner Brothers has not greenlit the second film yet. That will all depend on the success of the first film, however, which Villeneuve said would cover the first half of Herbert’s first book in the series. 

This adaptation is the second big-screen attempt at Herbert’s masterwork, the first being a 1984 flop directed by David Lynch. 

Villeneuve told Vanity Fair he considers Lynch “one of the best filmmakers alive,” but his version set to hit theaters in December will be different.

Villeneuve said it’s ”a book that tackles politics, religion, ecology, spirituality — and with a lot of characters. I think that’s why it’s so difficult. Honestly, it’s by far the most difficult thing I’ve done in my life.”

He also said the film tries to wrangle the broader context of Herbert’s book, “a distant portrait of the reality of the oil and the capitalism and the exploitation — the overexploitation — of Earth. Today, things are just worse,” he said.

But, he still considers the heart of it to be a “coming of age” story about the aristocrat Paul Atreides, played by Chalamet. 

As loyal as he wants to be to the book, the writing takes some liberties by adding more female characters and making Baron Harkonnen less of a “caricature,” according to Villeneuve. 

Dune is set to hit theaters December 18. 

Mythili Sampathkumar
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mythili is a freelance journalist based in New York. When not reporting about politics, foreign policy, entertainment, and…
3 reasons why Dune: Part Two is better than Dune: Part One
Timothée Chalamet gazes upon a distant explosion in a still from "Dune: Part Two."

In retrospect, the decision to push back the release of Dune: Part Two has paid off magnificently for Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment. Rather than risking the chance of the actors not being able to promote the film because of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the studios delayed the sequel to March, and it has subsequently doubled the opening weekend numbers of Dune: Part One.

Of course, it helps that Dune: Part Two wasn't released simultaneously on streaming like its predecessor was. But that's not the only cause for Part Two's dramatic increase. Keep reading for the three reasons why Dune: Part Two is better than Dune: Part One, and then race out to theaters to see this sequel on the biggest screen you can.
The massive scale of Dune is even bigger in Dune: Part Two

Read more
Here’s why Dune: Part One is still better than Dune: Part Two
Two men stand next to each other in Dune.

After several years of hype and anticipation, Dune is back. Denis Villeneuve's mammoth adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel of the same name has gotten the sequel treatment, and Dune: Part 2 is receiving many of the same plaudits and praise that Part 1 received when it was released in 2021. It grossed over $80 million in its opening weekend, and is on the path to outdo its predecessor.

Now that we have two parts to compare, though, the natural question is which is better. While Part 2 is certainly more action forward, and a lot of the setup from Part 1 is paid off in the sequel, here are some reasons why Part 1 may still be the better movie.
Dune gave us our first look at Arrakis
Arrival To Arrakis | Dune (2021) [4K 60FPS]

Read more
5 movies starring the cast of Dune: Part Two you should watch right now
The cast of Dune: Part Two in a poster for the film.

After a strike-related delay pushed it into this year, director Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two is heating up the box office. Villeneuve clearly has an eye for talent, as this sci-fi epic boasts an all-star cast that includes Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, and Javier Bardem. And those are just a few of the topline stars!

Fortunately, Dune: Part Two isn't the only place to see these actors and actresses. All of the previously mentioned cast members have films that are readily available to stream. So, if you're looking for five movies starring the cast of Dune: Part Two, then these are the films that you should watch right now.
Watch Timothée Chalamet in Wonka

Read more