Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic, Dune, has been an incredibly hard novel to adapt - until now. The story is making its way to the big and small screens on October 22 when it premieres in theaters and HBO Max. The newest film adaptation of Dune comes from director Denis Villeneuve and features an all-star cast including Timotheé Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, and more.
Villeneuve spoke with Screen Rant about keeping the film of Dune close to the spirit of the book and what to expect from Dune Part 2.
Screen Rant: I know you grew up loving Dune, and I'm sure you've heard there's a so-called curse of Dune when it comes to adapting it. I'm curious what you think of the previous adaptations of Dune, and what you felt was the secret to making it work? Because it really works.
Denis Villeneuve: Listen, it's a good question. I don't want to compare myself to the two masters; those two filmmakers are [great], and I'm a big fan of their work. I'm the biggest fan of [David] Lynch and [Alejandro] Jodorowsky, so I will not.
But I will say that the key for me was to really make sure that I was as close as possible to the spirit of the book. I think, for me, that was how I felt secure because my relationship with the book was so intimate that I was feeling I would be able to bring something out of it that will feel true to the nature of the book. I didn't think about the previous work that has been done; I just kept my focus on Frank Herbert's novel. That was my Bible. I kept it to this day with me; beside me, and it was my main source of inspiration.
And when I was in doubt, I was just going back to the Bible, reading Dune again and finding my answers. It was like a meditative process, being close to this beautiful masterpiece that deeply inspired me and still deeply moves me and gives me so much energy. I just kept in contact with that, not thinking about the outside world at all.
Frankly, I think that I made this movie for me. I really did it for the deep pleasure of expressing myself through something I deeply loved so much and am loving so much.
You said in a Q&A that Dune: Part One is an appetizer for Dune: Part Two, and I loved that. If you could tell us one thing to expect from Part Two and beyond, what would you say?
Denis Villeneuve: I will not dare to do that. The difference is just that Dune: Part One, of course, is like an introduction to a world where we explain who is who, who is doing what, and what is the technology? What is the culture here?
The second movie, I think, will be an opportunity to have much more fun. In a way, it will be more cinematic. That's what I can say.
