Dune (2020) by Denis Villeneuve - Have you seen the cast?!

[Cikomyr]

All right. I just went through the cast of the upcoming Dune movie due to come out in 2020. There ain't any trailer yet, but I was hyped at first just by knowing the director.

And now, I am re-hyped by knowing the cast.

I will skip the casting choices I feel are not that impressive. Not that I think they are wrong, but it usually mean they cast a young unknown actor.

That's the main actor that drew my attention at the moment. Chani and Paul Atreides' actors are.. young, in my opinion, so they haven't had the chance to really make their presence known on the silver screen. I still feel the below actors are goddamn impressive.

If you learn of more actors playing other key roles, like Tufir Hawat, the Emperor or Feyd-Rautha, let me know!!

Part I: The Atreides

Duke Leto Atreides

A compassionate but doomed noble leader, the Duke is Head of House Atreides. He is a hardworking and responsible commander who dearly loves his concubine, Lady Jessica, and son, Paul. He is well-regarded by his people and the other Great Houses, except for House Harkonnen who are mortal enemies to the Atreides.

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/d30f57b9-9e09-497b-b0c3-0db69300eb92/d541ayh-4eaacac3-3016-4dec-8163-51ae54c85a03.jpg/v1/fill/w_699,h_1144,q_70,strp/leto_atreides_by_agrbrod_d541ayh-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9 .eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZ DQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTg yMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7Imhla WdodCI6Ijw9MTQ3MyIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2QzMGY1N2I5LTl lMDktNDk3Yi1iMGMzLTBkYjY5MzAwZWI5MlwvZDU0MWF5aC00Z WFhY2FjMy0zMDE2LTRkZWMtODE2My01MWFlNTRjODVhMDMuanB nIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTkwMCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2Vyd mljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.TBz5joFju61eI50ySN bdk94DnX1_YEWdLFKJH2Tqt50

Oscar Isaac (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1209966/?ref_=tt_cl_t9)

https://www.etonline.com/sites/default/files/styles/max_970x546/public/images/2015-04/640_oscar_isaac_getty.jpg?itok=BeYtLKdm




Lady Jessica

Jessica is one of the most complicated characters in Dune. Like her son, she is the product of centuries of genetic breeding by the Bene Gesserit, an ancient school that teaches women how to develop superhuman mental and physical abilities. Jessica rebels against the school—she was instructed by the Bene Gesserit to bear a daughter, but she defied them and bore a son instead.

http://nerdist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Lady-Jessica-Fan-Art-07202015.jpg

Rebecca Ferguson (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0272581/?ref_=tt_cl_t3)

https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/rebecca-ferguson.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1




Gurney Halleck

Duke Leto’s weapons master and a renowned fighter. Halleck is proficient with many styles of fighting, training the young Paul Atreides to be the same. He is a humorous man who is also a talented musician on the baliset (string instrument), often entertaining the Atreides family and men with music.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVCojPDS0jTRhrkW__V5HncdcOdTWVD h8oSDpg9jPUUce1i61R8Q

Josh Brolin (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000982/?ref_=tt_cl_t6)

https://s1.r29static.com//bin/entry/f11/720x864,85/1983519/image.webp




Duncan Idaho

Duncan Idaho was a swordmaster in the service of House Atreides, and one of Duke Leto's right-hand men, with Gurney Halleck and Thufir Hawat. Duncan Idaho was said to be very handsome. He had black, curly hair, a dark complexion, and green or blue eyes.

https://66.media.tumblr.com/376c6236d1521fff15ebd5a3806d36ad/tumblr_pn32qrWAwl1u9ee6go1_400.jpg

Jason Momoa (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0597388/?ref_=tt_cl_t5)

https://resizing.flixster.com/BiozB-9CzCxsatIRr1RhfBTWGok=/2111x2767/v1.cjs0OTY2MDtqOzE4MTM1OzEyMDA7MjExMTsyNzY3




Part II: The Harkonnens

Baron Vladimir Harkonnen

Baron Harkonnen appears infrequently in the novel, but he initiates an important sequence of events that changes the future of the universe. He deviously tries to murder the entire House of Atreides and hopes to control the empire by having a monopoly on spice. His grandiose plans even include becoming the new emperor. He is ruthless, ambitious, cruel, and so fat that he requires antigravity devices to suspend his bulk.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8f/53/99/8f53990ff2fd417577e1254327614aab.jpg

Stellan Skarsgård (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001745/?ref_=tt_cl_t4)

https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/stellan-skarsgrd-1.jpg



Glossu 'Beast' Rabban

One of Baron Harkonnen’s nephews, Rabaan ruled Arrakis for House Harkonnen before the events of Dune. When the Harkonnens succeed in overcoming House Atreides and taking command of Arrakis, the Baron reinstates Rabban as ruler. The Baron considers Rabban as less intelligent than his younger brother, Feyd-Rautha. He is known on Arrakis as “the Beast” due to his brutal and sadistic tendencies.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/42/0c/a1/420ca16b640ce8fb820e2b9fbe1ba2d9.jpg

Dave Bautista (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1176985/?ref_=tt_cl_t2)

https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/life/04/26/batista-rtr-042617.jpg



Part III: The Fremen

Stilgar

A Fremen leader who challenges and then accepts Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica into his sietch, or Fremen community. He is a wise and capable leader who is so respected by his people that he is widely considered to be the voice of Fremen. He always places the interest of his people before his own, a quality that Paul admires greatly. When Paul rises to become the Fremen’s promised Mahdi of legend, Stilgar becomes one of his most trusted generals.

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/41ad8a8e-4a32-4b9f-a139-842368e747ee/d2ybi87-3409b8e3-6d8f-404e-ba90-21f13b08073f.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJ IUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQz NzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZT BkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6 W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzQxYWQ4YThlLTRhMzItNGI5Zi1hMT M5LTg0MjM2OGU3NDdlZVwvZDJ5Ymk4Ny0zNDA5YjhlMy02ZDhm LTQwNGUtYmE5MC0yMWYxM2IwODA3M2YuanBnIn1dXSwiYXVkIj pbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.UyQ890mp hHNMTgGEjWNuGYq9s8PpkHJi-FuGSfc5XrM

Javier Bardem (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000849/?ref_=tt_cl_t8)

https://resizing.flixster.com/eiXbAnttwGt6_s7iC6A9xnS0fNQ=/300x300/v1.cjs0OTIwODtqOzE4MTM1OzEyMDA7MjA1MzsyMjAz

[Legato Endless]

That's a pretty good lineup.

Oh? I should probably say something more.

While I don't have any complaints for this casting for Dune, in the event of a sequel there is one issue.

-Spoilers if you haven't read Dune-

In Book one Duncan is just the handsome master fighter/pilot/trusted right hand. He's mostly notable for having a cool last stand by the sheer number of the Emperor's elites he killed. Momoa is perfectly fine playing handsome guy who does manly stuff.

The problem here being, later versions of Duncan have a lot more going on. That might not translate considering Momoa's effective range is...not very wide.

[Kitten Champion]

The problem here being, later versions of Duncan have a lot more going on. That might not translate considering Momoa's effective range is...not very wide.

I hate to say this, but there's relatively good odds this'll under-perform in the box offices and this won't be an issue.

I mean, I'm looking forward to Villeneuve's Dune even though I don't care for the Dune novel, but these kinds of productions haven't worked out for Warner so much for whatever reason.

[Mechalich]

That's the main actor that drew my attention at the moment. Chani and Paul Atreides' actors are.. young, in my opinion, so they haven't had the chance to really make their presence known on the silver screen. I still feel the below actors are goddamn impressive.

Timothy Chalamet and Zendaya are kind of the fresh new thing in Hollywood. Chalamet, in particular, has an Oscar nom (for Call me by Your Name), and would be on pretty much anyone's top list of twenty-something actors. As such, their casting is very much in line with the incredibly heavyweight nature of the Dune (2020) cast.


I hate to say this, but there's relatively good odds this'll under-perform in the box offices and this won't be an issue.

I mean, I'm looking forward Villeneuve's Dune even though i don't care for the Dune novel, but these kinds of productions haven't worked out for Warner so much for whatever reason.

I like the Dune novel fine, but I generally have to agree. Dune is very weird, it's a heavily mythologized fantasy full of allusions set in an extremely high-concept futuristic space setting. It's also a long and sprawling novel with numerous locations and disjointed plot threads that are difficult to weave together on film. High-concept speculative fiction tends to struggle at the box office, in part because it's expensive to make but has a somewhat limited audience due to not being family friendly. Of Villeneuve's previous forays into this area Arrival made a bunch of money, but only because it was carefully budgeted for a relatively cheap $47 million, while the $150 million Blade Runner 2049 lost a fortune despite being linked to one of science fiction's stronger IPs.

I can't see Dune (2020) coming in at much under $200 million, especially given the stacked cast list, so in order to make money it needs to hit big, and I don't know if the audience is there. I think it depends on the international receipts, and honestly I have no idea how popular the Dune franchise is globally in general and in China in particular (the Chinese box office likes sci-fi, but whether a Dune film can do ~200 million there is anybody's guess).

That said, I understand why Warner is trying this. Dune could be a franchise if it hits, and they need franchises now more than ever with Disney-Fox controlling so much IP.

[J-H]

I think it works better as a miniseries than as a single movie. There's a lot to cram into 2.5-3 hours. Buuuut yeah. This'll be the 3rd film adaptation, after the '80s one with the weird sonics, and the SciFi channel one in the early 2000s that I watched while recovering from LASIK and don't remember.

[Cikomyr]

I think it works better as a miniseries than as a single movie. There's a lot to cram into 2.5-3 hours. Buuuut yeah. This'll be the 3rd film adaptation, after the '80s one with the weird sonics, and the SciFi channel one in the early 2000s that I watched while recovering from LASIK and don't remember.

I liked both. the David Lynch version had so much.. vision and desire to be epic.

The SciFi version really conveys the whole thematic of Jihads and Muad'ib's struggle

[Eldan]

I really dont' care if this crashes and burns at the box office. So did Blade Runner 2049 and that was one of the most incredible things I've ever seen in the cinema. As long as they let Villeneuve make more of what he does, I don't care in the least.

[cobaltstarfire]

I hate to say this, but there's relatively good odds this'll under-perform in the box offices and this won't be an issue.


Even if it does well I kind of hope they only plan to cover the first book, it works fine as a standalone, and its a good place to stop since it's before many of the main threads for the series really start to show up in a meaningful way. I struggle to imagine anything good coming out of trying to make all of the original books into movies. Especially because of the amount of cutting or sanitizing that would have to be done to keep the maturity rating down, along with the time span covered, and some of the weird little bunny trails it has that can't all be skipped if you want things to make sense later on.

[Eldan]

At least the second book, maybe? It is pretty important for Herberts intended political message that Paul fails.

[The Troubadour]

This is only tangentially related to the topic, but I admit that when picturing the characters, I've always been influenced by their depictions in the old Dune DOS game - the one which mixed some RPG elements with strategy.

[JoshL]

I would like to see them get through the whole series, thought I doubt they will. Mostly I'd just like to see the two post-Frank books told by a better writer.

Anyway, I'm on board for this. There's lots that I like about the other two versions too. The tv Children of Dune was pretty good two. Not without problems (Ghanima, in particular, was not handled well), but lots of good there too, and a great soundtrack.

[Cikomyr]

It's been my opinion that the Dune 1st novel would be best transcribed as a full series.

But don't follow the exact same pacing as the book itself. Use the opportunity to flesh out character and characterization. You have everything available to recreate Game of Thrones IN SPACE!!!!

Season 1: pre-Dune arrival. Focus on developing the Atreides household. Show what sort of regime the Harkonnen were forcing upon Arrakis. Show what is the balance of power present in the Landsraad, the Guild and the Emperor. Use that season for world-building and character building. You can even have Kynes have his own Fremen subplot so he and the locals don't show up out thr blues next season. It ends with the Atreides moving to Dune.

Season 2: the Atreides Reign of Dune.
That's the part 1 of the original novel. You can focus on palace intrigue. You hint the Harkonnen have laid out a trap, you hint a Traitor. You showcase the sort of awesome individual Idaho is amongst the Fremen. It ends with the destruction of House Atreides.

Season 3: Life and Survival. This is the flight of Paul and Jessica into the desert. Rabban comes back in power, and yet the Baron is slowly starting to prepare the stage for Feyd. It ends when Paul becomes the Prophet Muad'id and declares the Jihad against the Harkonnen.

Season 4: Muad'ib's Jihad. This is the Harkonnen slowly losing grasp on the planet, with the Emperor eventually intervening directly. It ends with the Battle of Arrakeen, and the start of the most destructive wave of violence to wash across humanity.