I think it’s that colonial thing, in a story that at its heart has a lot to say about colonialism. And a gender thing, in a story that has an absolute ton going on about that too. Like I said way, back, I am genuinely not fussed about it in this film, and can see *why* they did it. For the longer set of events… well, it’s gonna have ramifications for what you might call the Voyager stage of the story. But I would be totally amazed if it ever got that far anyway frankly.
I still think if I was gonna do it, I would do it (a) bigger, with one of the more prominent characters and (b) that character would be gurney, because it would work really really well, and even give them a nice opportunity for a bit of star power, as Gurney is a troubadour. Admittedly that takes us back into Jodorowsky or Lynch territory, with Rihanna or Lady Gaga. But, it also opens up the possibility of a Gwendoline Christie, or Sigourney Weaver. Or go crazy and break the internet and get Sean Young back. Gurney losing a husband, getting that vine-whip scar at the hand of the Harkonens, a *woman* angry and hating the *man* that took her life and family away, and siding with the Atreides and wanting the Baron dead could have real power. Denied a child of her own by the Harkonens torture and taking her husband, becoming an extra mother/aunt figure to Paul could really have some weight. Jessica as her sister figure (when sorority is a big theme too) could really make the reunion bit later in the story sing.
Yes, it would be a big change, but it states intent, it shows the film is its own thing as well as an adaptation, and allows it a freedom as it progresses to those later, nigh on un-filmable parts of the story to make bigger changes that preserve the spirit and much of the story without having to be even as exact as this first one will try.
But we go with a character that as you demonstrate can be downplayed instead. Not ruffle too many feathers.
I dunno, it’s not break the film for me, but it just.. misses a couple of points that are important, and it could have been much more.