For fans of Frank Herbert’s Dune novels, there is no bigger film to arrive this year than the new film by Denis Villeneuve. The director behind Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival has proven himself in the genre already, but those didn’t have a rabid fanbase who even managed to love David Lynch’s 1984 version, largely considered to be a flop. In short, Villeneuve’s got a lot on his plate.
After yesterday’s teaser, the first full trailer has arrived for Dune, and Villeneuve has clearly taken advantage of being able to paint on such a grand cinematic landscape. The film is led by Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides, a young man with a destiny to preserve his family’s honor by holding on to control of the galaxy’s most valuable resource, a drug known as spice which grants the user incredible abilities and long life. Just taking in the epic scope of Dune it’s hard to believe Villeneuve is the same guy who gave us films such as Sicario, Enemy, and Prisoners. Everything he’s done has been great, but this is just so much bigger.
Joining Chalamet are Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica Atreides, Oscar Issac as Duke Leto Atreides, Stephen Mckinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Zendaya as Chani, Stellan Skarsgard as Baron Vladimir, Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Dr. Liet Kynes, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban, Charlotte Rampling as Bene Gesserit, and Javier Bardem as Stilgar. Behind the camera there’s even more talent, with Hans Zimmer on the score and cinematographer Greig Fraser (Rogue One) providing the breath-taking visuals.
Dune opens December 18th, and with it there will be a spinoff series with the possibility of sequels if it proves to be a hit.
A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.
