Adapting an influential piece of literature is daunting enough as it is without no longer having access to the mastermind behind it all, the author. Although adaptations are meant to offer different perspectives to the original story, the novel is still the foundation that it’s being built off of. So when director Denis Villeneuve signed on to helm the film based on Frank Herbert’s acclaimed science fiction novel, Dune, he knew thousands of fans were counting on him to do it justice. Dune is Herbert’s best-known body of work, expanding into what would become a series of six novels. It’s sold more than 12 million copies and has been translated into 14 different languages.
Therefore, the acclamation and longevity of the success of this novel set high standards for the upcoming film, especially since the 1984 Dune movie wasn’t received very well by audiences. Villeneuve not only felt pressure from fans of the novel but from Herbert himself, to who he will never be able to show the film. Whether or not Villeneuve would have wanted lots of input from Herbert regarding the adaptation if he was alive today is unknown, but it’s clear that no matter what Villeneuve wanted to make him proud.
In an interview on the ReelBlend podcast, the director was asked to name just one scene from his upcoming film that he would specifically choose to show Herbert if he had the opportunity. The question excited him so much that he had to share three scenes instead of just one. Villeneuve's in-depth and extended response to this question just goes to further prove how much thought he has put in on his time towards considering Herbert’s influence. Villeneuve answered, “I think that I would love to show him three scenes. I would love to show him the arrival of Reverend Mother, followed by the Gom Jabbar. I would love to see how he feels about that. I think that’s pretty close to the book! I think I would love to share with him my interpretation of Paul’s first journey in the desert with the Duke and Gurney, when they see a harvester for the first time, and Paul’s first footstep in the desert."
"I think that’s slightly different from the book, and I’m pretty proud of how we brought it to the screen. And I would have loved to see what he felt about that approach," he continued. The scenes he selected seem to be pretty crucial moments for the main character, but the last scene Villeneuve wishes he could share with the author tugged at his inner child. He stated, “And then, I think that I would have loved to share with him the final sequence of the movie, where Paul finally meets the Fremen. Because THAT is very close to what my dream was when I was a kid. I remember being in the desert, I was beside Paul Atreides with a camera, and listening to Stilgar in the dark, and I had shivers. I was like, Oh God, it’s so close to what I had in mind when I was a kid. Those are the three.”
Fans will never know what Hebert would've thought of Villeneuve's Dune, but it resonated with moviegoers enough to warrant a sequel. After much anticipation, Warner Bros. recently confirmed it will move forward with the second chapter of Villeneuve's Dune adaptation.
Dune is in theaters now and available for streaming on HBO Max.
Source: CinemaBlend