Dune 2018 (19,20,21...)

[wayoung]

Yeah, just read it. Interesting that he disliked Dune 'with some intensity' while still noting that Herbert was 'working along the same lines' as himself.

I took that as "This guy is stealing my work and writing dog shit with it".

 

[JD]

I can of course be wrong too but one of the main draws for Game of Thrones was the political intrigue (alongside the gore, nudity and action of course), it just needs to be well written.

However with Dune itself i find the political aspects are quite light - House Atreides is very popular in the Landsraad ( basically the ruling council who are presided by the Emperor), thus becoming a political rival to the Emperor who comes up with a plan together with the Atreides' most vicious rival, House Harkonnen, to get rid of them.

They lay a trap for them by having them assume control of Arrakis, attack and wipe out the entire House in one action in the disguise of this being a sanctioned and official action allowed by the rules for House feuds (that the Emperor secretly supplied his elite Sardaukar troops made this possible because otherwise chances were that House Atreides would have kicked the Harkonnens' ass).

Of course Paul and Jessica escape, find shelter with the Fremen who turn out to be even more elite fighters than the Sardaukar. Paul becomes their prophesied leader (you may gloss over the fact that the Bene Gesserit are planting such prophesies into many cultures for future use, it's not that important for the main plot) and leads the Fremen to conquer the whole planet - which has far wider implications because of its unique ressouce which he now completely controls making him even more powerful than the Emperor and the Spacing Guild combined.

So - basic plot explained in 2 paragraphs which i believe is enough for a decent movie story and could be explained well enough through exposition and dialogue without dragging it down and putting people to sleep in their seats.

I guess the first movie may deal mostly with the setup - the plan by the Emperor and Baron Harkonnen, Atreides moving to Arrakis and settling in and as the first movie climax and cliffhanger the surprise attack and Paul and Jessica fleeing into the desert (depending on the cliffhanger it could be the last scene making their fate even more mysterious for non-readers or the final scene could be the Fremen/Stilgar picking them up).

The second movie could be about Paul and Jessica gaining control and become allied with the Fremen, building up the forces and starting the campaign to retake Arrakis including the final assault and political change in the movie climax.

I think it'll go at least a little into the Fremen since Zendaya as Chani is in it.

 

[Mike Farley]

I hope it's at least popular enough to get the second part made. I'm not attached enough to the sequels to be overly upset if they don't get adapted.

 

[saddestmoon]

I’m hoping all the books get made into movies eventually.

TBH, as good as the first book is, I actually preferred many of the sequel books (that Frank wrote).

 

[fireproof78]

Yeah, just read it. Interesting that he disliked Dune 'with some intensity' while still noting that Herbert was 'working along the same lines' as himself.

Interesting. I'll have to look that up. It might have been the more religious themes that put Tolkien off since Tolkien himself was a devout Catholic.

 

[theenglish]

Might be a long wait! I guess ultimately I just think it's a little too high concept, but we'll see.

Seems like they are definitely gambling on Dune as the start of a franchise, so could be we'll keep seeing that world pushed even if the movie doesn't succeed quite as well as the studio might wish.

I would say the studio-heads are dreaming if they are expecting a Marvel or LOTR level Blockbuster on this--and I would also suggest they don't understand the source material nor their director. This is a movie that will appeal to a broad audience, including those that have never heard of Dune, who are expecting an intellectual science fiction movie along the lines of Arrival (I haven't seen his BR movie). It will make money, hopefully be both well liked and well reviewed, and may be nominated for award season--but I highly doubt it will be breaking box office records.

 

[fireproof78]

I would say the studio-heads are dreaming if they are expecting a Marvel or LOTR level Blockbuster on this

They always hope for all the money.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I would say the studio-heads are dreaming if they are expecting a Marvel or LOTR level Blockbuster on this--and I would also suggest they don't understand the source material nor their director.

Wait...what makes you think Denis Villeneuve doesn't understand the material?

 

[fireproof78]

Wait...what makes you think Denis Villeneuve doesn't understand the material?

I think they are saying the studio-heads do not understand the director, not that Villeneuve doesn't understand the material.

 

[theenglish]

I think they are saying the studio-heads do not understand the director, not that Villeneuve doesn't understand the material.

Exactly. I am sure Villeneuve knows what he's doing. I am saying the studio doesn't understand the types of films Villeneuve makes if they are expecting Marvel Super-Hero level returns on this film. Denis makes high quality, thoughtful movies that are often more slowly paced--not action films. I think Villeneuve is the right person to make Dune and do it well.

 

[HugeLobes]

I would say the studio-heads are dreaming if they are expecting a Marvel or LOTR level Blockbuster on this--and I would also suggest they don't understand the source material nor their director.

I completely agree. It's easy to look at Dune as a huge property and think that will translate into huge returns, but when you actually look at the source material it isn't particularly well-suited to adaptation, at least if you want those returns. Villeneuve is definitely the right person to make a decent Dune, but after Blade Runner it seems very optimistic to expect Dune to do well. Honestly I'm not the man's biggest fan, but I don't really know directors so can't think of anyone else.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I think they are saying the studio-heads do not understand the director, not that Villeneuve doesn't understand the material.

Exactly. I am sure Villeneuve knows what he's doing. I am saying the studio doesn't understand the types of films Villeneuve makes if they are expecting Marvel Super-Hero level returns on this film. Denis makes high quality, thoughtful movies that are often more slowly paced--not action films. I think Villeneuve is the right person to make Dune and do it well.

Oh, quite right. I'm sorry. I misread your initial post.

 

[JD]

Exactly. I am sure Villeneuve knows what he's doing. I am saying the studio doesn't understand the types of films Villeneuve makes if they are expecting Marvel Super-Hero level returns on this film. Denis makes high quality, thoughtful movies that are often more slowly paced--not action films. I think Villeneuve is the right person to make Dune and do it well.

I would think at this point he's done enough movies that the people who hired him would know what kind of movies he makes. I think the fact that they went with him, instead of a someone like Justin Lin or the Russo Brothers, shows that they have at least a decent understanding of Villeneuve and the book.

 

[theenglish]

I would think at this point he's done enough movies that the people who hired him would know what kind of movies he makes. I think the fact that they went with him, instead of a someone like Justin Lin or the Russo Brothers, shows that they have at least a decent understanding of Villeneuve and the book.

I agree--my original comment was based on "if the studio thinks they are going to make Marvel level numbers" then they made an uninformed decision. I am hoping the studio has a realistic expectation how much the movie is likely to pull in.

 

[FPAlpha]

I would think at this point he's done enough movies that the people who hired him would know what kind of movies he makes. I think the fact that they went with him, instead of a someone like Justin Lin or the Russo Brothers, shows that they have at least a decent understanding of Villeneuve and the book.

Don't knock the Russo brothers - they did an amazing job with the Infinity War movies out of, let's face it, "lesser" source material than what Dune in its entirety can provide. However even with all the gigantic CGI battles, the cool one liners and shout outs to iconic comicbook moments and phrases they still managed to inject heart into the movies and make you care about the fate of the characters, that is no small feat for such blockbusters.

Villeneuve's and the Russo's version of Dune would be different of course but not nessecarily bad - as i said the first book is definitely the easiest to follow for the general audience as its tropes are well known and there are quite clear distinctions between heroes and villains.

Right now no one can tell how the movie will do.. it has the right ingredients (well known and capable director who's passionate about the source material, a well put and liked cast, possible cool action scenes and something for the heart) but other movies had that too and bombed badly.

When the marketing campaign ramps up and the movie gets attention with the general audience then you can start to gauge interest but we will only see it once it releases into theaters obviously.

 

[wayoung]

My guess is the first movie will end with Paul and Chani making love during the spice orgy, considering Zendaya's statement that she isn't in it much and it being a natural stop point after the climax of the Jamis fight. Also sets up a cliffhanger with Paul's visions during it. Didn't the mini also end one of its parts on that moment? My DVDs are with my ex so I haven't watched them in awhile.

Note:. I have not read any of the "leaks" so this isn't a spoiler

 

[fireproof78]

I agree--my original comment was based on "if the studio thinks they are going to make Marvel level numbers" then they made an uninformed decision. I am hoping the studio has a realistic expectation how much the movie is likely to pull in.

I think studios will always hope for Marvel level numbers but have their own spreadsheets of what is satisfactory. Ultimately, the numbers on the sheet is all that matters. If it makes its money back, OK. If it makes more than that, nice, and on and on. It's all just percentages.

 

[JD]

Don't knock the Russo brothers - they did an amazing job with the Infinity War movies out of, let's face it, "lesser" source material than what Dune in its entirety can provide. However even with all the gigantic CGI battles, the cool one liners and shout outs to iconic comicbook moments and phrases they still managed to inject heart into the movies and make you care about the fate of the characters, that is no small feat for such blockbusters.

Villeneuve's and the Russo's version of Dune would be different of course but not nessecarily bad - as i said the first book is definitely the easiest to follow for the general audience as its tropes are well known and there are quite clear distinctions between heroes and villains.

Right now no one can tell how the movie will do.. it has the right ingredients (well known and capable director who's passionate about the source material, a well put and liked cast, possible cool action scenes and something for the heart) but other movies had that too and bombed badly.

When the marketing campaign ramps up and the movie gets attention with the general audience then you can start to gauge interest but we will only see it once it releases into theaters obviously.

I didn't mean that as a knock on them, I just think Villenueve's style is a better fit for Dune.
I love their Marvel movies, and put Infinity War and Endgame up there as a couple of my all time favorite movies.

 

[FPAlpha]

I didn't mean that as a knock on them, I just think Villenueve's style is a better fit for Dune.
I love their Marvel movies, and put Infinity War and Endgame up there as a couple of my all time favorite movies.

I agree and am really curious how V's Dune will look and play out

 

[Mage]

You know..... Now I want to know how a Villenueve Marvel movie would pan out.....