A brief history of Dune
Plus: What to [watch] this weekend.
Happy Dune season to all who celebrate.
Dune is a landmark sci-fi story finally getting the adaptation it deserves. But the road to the current adaptation is as long as the book series itself.
Here is the brief history of Dune.
Frank Herbert’s Dune
Dune came to Frank Herbert during a magazine writing gig about the sand dunes of Oregon.
In addition working as a reporter, Herbert’s pre-Dune career included being a photographer, soldier, and speech writer. But author was always his dream.
After a few minor published works, Herbert spent years writing Dune. It was first published in the sci-fi magazine Analog, rejected at many publishers for its length, and finally published to critical acclaim winning both the Nebula and Hugo Awards. Dune was a massive hit.
Through Dune, Herbert was able to explore his warnings about religious zeal, passion for ecology, and philosophy for human consciousness and optimization. Yes, Frank Herbert did drugs.
Something I love about Dune is Herbert’s exclusion of technology. It makes the story timeless. You don’t get bogged down by computers and machines, but instead explore how humans advance and evolve (or devolve) over the centuries.
Dune later became a trilogy of books. Then finally expanded into six novels before Herbert’s death in 1986.
Jodorowsky's Dune
This ambitious 1975 adaptation is a story so crazy it has its own documentary. Psychedelic director Alejandro Jodorowsky believed this project would change the world.
Jodorowsky speaks about Dune like a cult leader preaching to his flock. And he is the embodiment of the druggy, philosophical, and messianic properties in the story.
His ambition was so large, there is almost no way it could have been executed. He couldn’t secure the financing and never came to fruition.
But not for lack of trying.
The fun part of this adaptation is the wide-range of talent Jodorowsky was able to recruit to the project.
The most important is the legendary French comic artist Mœbius. The two collaborated closely and created a huge book of storyboards that served as the backbone of the doomed film.
Other talent attached was David Carradine, Mick Jagger, Pink Floyd, Salvador Dalí, H.R. Giger, and even Orson Welles as the Baron Harkonnen.
Watch the full story of this unmade film in the documentary Jodoroswky’s Dune (currently on Max).
David Lynch’s Dune
This time an avant-garde filmmaker actually made the film. But only according to some cuts. Director David Lynch’s already troubled production was hacked to bits by the production company. Lynch scrubbed his name of these cuts by using the director pseudonym Alan Smithee.
Dune (1984) stars Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides and features Sting wearing a dope codpiece. The original 3-hour movie was cut down to 2 hours using reshoots and voiceover to help the film make sense. It still didn’t.
Dune (1984) released to critical and commercial failure in the US, but found success abroad. It’s regarded as a failure but has since built up a cult following. Worth a watch for all you Spice Heads.
Sci Fi Channel’s Dune
It’s clear Dune is too long for one movie. So the Sci Fi Channel created a three-part mini series called Frank Herbert’s Dune in 2000. Then again with Frank Herbert's Children of Dune in 2003 that covered the second and third book in Herbert’s original series. They are some of the highest-rated programs on the Sci Fi Channel and celebrated for their special effects.
I’ve never seen these adaptations and don’t have much to add because there isn’t an easy way to watch them besides old DVDs.
Brian Herbert’s Dune
Frank Herbert had two more books planned, but died in 1986 before completion. His oldest son Brian, along with author Kevin J. Anderson, took up the mantel to complete these stories.
They went on to write a huge swatch of prequels, sequels, and Brian even authored a biography of his father. Which is crazy because he pretty much hated his father for most of his life.
In Dreamer of Dune: The Biography of Frank Herbert, Brian documents his father’s dick-head tendencies and questionable fatherly practices. Brian comes across as an incredibly sweet guy. He made amends with dear old dad, and went on to continue the Duniverse using the thousands of notes from his father over the years.
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune
Denis Villeneuve is among the elite directors currently working. He brings humanity in stories with unmatched spectacle. His early movies are emotional, excruciating, and arty. Sicario is a tight-gripped thriller executed beautifully. And finally before Dune, he goes full sci-fi with the heady Arrival and the masterpiece Blade Runner 2049.
Smartly splitting the novel into two parts, Dune is best watched with a massive screen and blaring speakers. It has an insane cast of old favorites mixed with the rising stars of Hollywood.
If you’ve made it this far, you most likely recognize Dune (2021) for it’s greatness.
Future Dune
There are two future Dune projects we know about.
Dune: Prophecy is a spin-off series focused on the founding of the Bene Gesserit order set 10,000 years before Dune. It’s wrapped filming and scheduled to air on Max in late 2024.
A third Dune movie from Villeneuve is based on the second novel Dune: Messiah. This will serve as the conclusion for the story Villeneuve wants to tell. Apparently the script is done, but it will still be a while before we see Part 3 on the big screen.
What to [watch] this weekend?
Film: Dune: Part 2
Dune: Part 2 is an absolute marvel. This is our generation’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings. Don’t sleep on seeing it in IMAX. You deserve to experience Dune: Part 2 with the biggest screen. With the loudest speakers. With your phone turned off. With an edible kicking in. Just remember, “Fear is the mind-killer.”
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Logline: “Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.”
Where to Watch: IMAX, duh
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Take off early from work today. You deserve it.
See you next week.