In 1984, the world was introduced to Dune on the big screen and it has often been viewed as something of a misunderstood masterpiece. It bombed at the box office and received negative reviews from critics at the time but over the past few decades, it has become a cult classic held in high esteem.
In the eyes of many, it'll be difficult to top what David Lynch did with his take on the 1965 novel of the same name. However, there's reason for excitement with the 2021 version helmed by Denis Villeneuve. There are fans who are both pumped and wary of the upcoming release.
10 Skeptical: Questions About Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
In the original novel, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen is described as being pretty grotesque and morbidly obese. The repugnant villain does some truly terrible things that make him an ideal antagonist. In the 2021 film, he'll be played by Stellan Skarsgård.
On paper, it should work given Skarsgård's talent. However, there is a concern when it comes to his look. Villeneuve revealed that Skarsgård will wear full-body prosthetics and that the character is like a "rhino in human form." The action figure also details the look and it has been met with a mixed response at best.
9 Excited: Visually Great Based On Trailer
Obviously, audiences haven't been able to see what the movie itself will look like in full. All they have to go on at this point is the trailer, which was met with high praise from most who saw it. A major reason why is that it looks like it takes advantage of its big budget.
It's already evident that the cinematography will be top-notch and Villeneuve has made some stunning-looking films in the past. The infamous giant sandworm at the end of the trailer also looked terrifyingly fantastic.
8 Skeptical: Might Still Be Too Strange For Many
Although the 1984 film has found a passionate and loyal following, there is a reason it didn't succeed in the first place. While audiences often say they want to see unique things on the big screen, the tried and true, easy-to-digest movies usually make way more money.
More often than not, sci-fi flicks with ideas that are considered "out there" don't do well from a commercial standpoint. It may not impact the quality itself of the movie but a failure at the box office could mean that the idea of sequels is off the table, which could hurt the overall story.
7 Excited: Plan For Multiple Films
When Denis Villeneuve signed on to adapt Dune, he made sure to ink a deal for two movies. The novel is way too powerful and complex to be contained to one iteration. It'll be similar to the way that Stephen King's It was split into two movies between 2017 and 2019.
Even with the contract, there are worries that it could get canceled early but if it doesn't, it's exciting. This shows that the people behind the movie are trying to make sure every important bit of the source material is covered, giving it the time and care it requires.
6 Skeptical: Great Actors Might Not Get Shine
Regardless of your feelings about Dune, the team behind it, or sci-fi movies in general, there's one thing that everyone can seem to agree on with this film. The cast is remarkably talented. There are heavy hitters up and down the line in nearly every role.
As exciting as that sounds, it could be a case of "too much of a good thing." This can be a tricky balancing act in that some great performers might not get much screen time. Some MCU films have pulled this off but they're more like the exception and not the rule in these cases.
5 Excited: The Cast Is Fantastic
That said, it's hard to not be stoked about the prospect of these actors sharing the screen. It's almost unheard of to have this much talent in one place. Josh Brolin, Charlotte Rampling, and Timothée Chalamet have all been nominated for Oscars, while Javier Bardem won one.
Rebecca Ferguson was up for a Golden Globe, while Zendaya recently won her first Emmy for her work in Euphoria. That's all not even counting Oscar Isaac, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, and Jason Momoa, among others. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more impressive cast anywhere.
4 Skeptical: HBO Max Controversy
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, movie studios had to get a bit creative with their releases. Christopher Nolan was adamant about getting Tenet out in theaters and it performed poorly, so other films want to avoid this. That led to the Warner Bros. deal with HBO Max. Their releases would arrive in theaters and with HBO Max simultaneously.
The issue is that Legendary Entertainment isn't pleased with this and even threatened legal action. However, the success of Godzilla vs. Kong could mean Dune only goes to theaters. If it does, fewer people might see it but if it doesn't, folks might see it on a smaller screen, which might not be ideal for this kind of film.
3 Excited: Denis Villeneuve
One of the most important things to nail for a movie with such a high concept like this is a great director. Thankfully, Dune has that in Denis Villeneuve. It takes a lot to live up to what David Lynch did but if any current director can pull it off, it's Villeneuve.
After helming some impressive smaller budget movies, he got his first big break with 2013's Prisoners. That was followed by Sicario, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049. Each is complex and well done from a director's standpoint. His work on Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 is all the proof needed that he can handle sci-fi.
2 Skeptical: The Action
Most fans come to Dune for the sci-fi elements and just how trippy the whole thing might be. The action isn't often viewed as the big selling point but it's certainly there. A lot of the action in the books feels arcane but previews and talk of this new film seem different.
Villeneuve told Entertainment Weekly about a new style of combat involving shields and it could be a question mark. The way he explained it certainly sounds like it will be intriguing to see on screen but there is concern from some fans that it might be trying too hard for the typical blockbuster action rather than something true to the tone.
1 Excited: Fans Of Dune Are Working On It
It's crucial that the people adapting something to a film are fans of it. Even if critics didn't overwhelmingly love 2021's Mortal Kombat, viewers did because the folks who worked on it were fans of the games. Dune is lucky that those behind it love the source material.
For one, Villeneuve has admitted his admiration for David Lynch's 1984 take on the story. There's also composer Hans Zimmer, who explained his love for Dune soon after signing on to the film. That goes a long way to making sure something is done right.
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