The Dune trailer is here and it looks like it will be decent, right?

There’s a lot of hype over the Dune movie coming out this December. It’s directed by Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049, Arrival) with a screenplay by Jon Spaihts (Passengers, Prometheus, Doctor Strange) and Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Benjamin Button, A Star is Born). I’m including the writers because of course everything will hinge on the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 epic novel, one of the bestselling science fiction books of all time.

So far we’ve had just one Dune movie and a couple miniseries. The 1984 film, directed by David Lynch and starring Kyle MacLachlan, is god awful. I can say this because I watched it less than a month ago and Lynch calls it the only movie he’s not proud of. It was plodding and tough for me to understand, I’m not going to lie. My son is on the third book and he explained everything but I still didn’t get it! (Sidenote: if you need a Dune explainer, watch this 5 minute video.)

I asked my 15-year-old son to watch this trailer with me and give his thoughts. This is starring Timothee Chalamet (Paul Atreides), Zendaya (Chani), Jason Momoa (Duncan Idaho), Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck), Oscar Isaac (Duke Leto Atreides) and a bunch of other heavyweight actors. I know I’ll be seeing this, depending on the state of the world, and it looks better than I was expecting! I see a few scenes that look better than they did in the first movie although that bar is really low. Here are my son’s thoughts as we watched this:

– Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya are too old to play 15 and 16-year-old characters. (Zendaya’s character is supposed to be 12 but they changed it.)
– The ships look cool
– Me: Oscar Isaac is really hot
– Stellan Skarsgard looks badass as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
– The Sardaukar look badass when they’re descending
– Both of us: Jason Momoa looks like a freak without a beard
– Stellan Skarsgard’s character does not go in brown liquid in the book
– Spice isn’t shiny it’s just darker than sand
– They should have their still suits on as it’s a waste of water without them

My son also says he’s worried that this will be too action-heavy and not true to the plot of the book, which is about unchecked power. I don’t care too much as long as it’s entertaining, which is how I expect most people feel. After seeing the first movie I had very low expectations for a remake, but I’m somewhat optimistic and so is my son, who says he’s “optimistically pessimistic.” He gets that from me in general.

Also, if you’d like a Dune fix and have already seen the movie, I highly recommended the 2013 documentary Jodorosky’s Dune, available on Amazon Prime and free on IMDB TV. There’s no way I can do this justice, but it’s about a failed attempt in the 1970s to adapt the movie. Jodorosky is a director with a sweeping, larger-than-life vision for Dune that collapsed under his ambition. He got Pink Floyd to agree to do the soundtrack and Dalí to agree to be in it for $100,000 a second.

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51 Responses to “The Dune trailer is here and it looks like it will be decent, right?”

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  1. Lemons says:

    You might want to replace the header image which is of the Walking Dead!

    The trailer looks very nice! Love the effects.

  2. oliphant says:

    I actually thought this looked really dull and generic, and I’m not convinced about Chalamet. However I have faith in Villeneuve and I’m assuming the trailer was cut by a different department to try and bring in a wider audience- generic hero type stuff sells and whilst it is a kind of coming of age story for young Paul Atreides it is so much more.

    Also, Jason Momoa just takes me out of anything he’s in. Dude is hot but just plays himself. I hope he can reign it in here.

    I am excited for rebecca Ferguson’s Jessica 🙂 and will be interesting to see how they deal with the bene gesserit- though the bit with Paul and the box was god awful- hopefully it’s just the way the trailer was cut but the acting is terrible from both.

    worm looked great!

    • Grant says:

      You’re so right about Jason Momoa. He is fine as HELL but he has absolutely no range or versatility as an actor. I don’t foresee a lasting career for him in Hollywood but then again, he is an attractive man so he’ll probably still be playing Aquaman when he’s 60.

      • Lisa says:

        Not true. Have you watched SEE? Its a show on Apple TV. I would say, I watched that and he absolutely killed it, I was blown away by his ability to act and realize how sadly he will always be type cast until he ages out, and then I HOPE, and I say this, I genuinely hope, then he will finally get the recognition he deserves. He is the last person who would give a fuck about accolades, and I think he cares deeply for family and friends, so he takes on jobs not because they will win him an oscar, but to stay steadily employed. One day, he won’t have to worry about that shit and then can start doing the roles that people are willing to gamble on him with.

    • SpiceWorm says:

      I love Rebecca Ferguson and agree Chalamet isn’t entirely convincing here (not that Kyle McLaughlin was either).

  3. Sayrah says:

    Wrong header pic?

  4. FHMom says:

    Sadly, I’m not going to any movie theaters anytime in the near distant future. Are people really going to the movies?

    • magdalena says:

      I saw Tenet and I will see Mulan this weekend. But I feel quite safe in my European Country. Not that we are free of Covid, but we have clusters rather than community transmissions. And yes, I’m wearing a mask in the cinema.

    • Chonky Cat says:

      Yes.. because in other parts of the world we have covid under control.

  5. Jerusha says:

    Timothee Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, directed by Denis Villeneuve. I’ll watch it if they only sit around a table and shoot the bull.

  6. Case says:

    I’m more excited about the cast than the trailer itself. It was a bit lackluster, right?

  7. Becks1 says:

    I am interested in this movie…I’ve never read Dune, but it was something that my dad and brothers were all really into, so I’m sure it will be discussed at future family gatherings, so maybe I should watch it, lol. But the preview makes it look a lot more interesting than my dad’s old copy of the book did, haha.

  8. Mia4s says:

    I know the story, so I’m intrigued. But I’m mostly staying quiet because every time someone says/posts “OMG! I’m so excited to see ” I have to bite through my tongue. This is not a happy story folks!

    Jason Momoa feels wrong for the character he’s playing. I’m just not getting it.

    • Dara says:

      I was super stoked about this movie…until I heard who was playing whom. Aside from Chalamet, Zendaya and Ferguson, no one else quite fits their part. Move Brolin to Duke Leto or maybe Idaho, Isaac to Gurney, Momoa to anyone but Idaho. Who is playing Stilgar?

  9. grabbyhands says:

    I know next to nothing about Dune, so I have no expectations.

    I continue to be weirdly intrigued by Timothy Chalamet, however.

  10. Jess says:

    I have been obsessed w Dune since eight grade. I’ve read the original six books multiple times and read all the filler books Herbert’s son wrote. It’s already obvious from the trailer that they’re taking artistic liberties but it still looks good and I am so excited to see it. And Oscar Isaac looks beyond sexy here.

  11. sunny says:

    I think it will be good. The source material will be insanely difficult to adapt but Villeneuve is a terrific director. He is fantastic at working with actors. I’m slightly worried because he has never made a film on this scale but excited to see what he does when given this kind of budget and cast.

  12. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    Anything could be an improvement next to the first movie. The miniseries is far superior. But when I saw this last night, I’m thrilled for another version. Love the story. I, too, hope it isn’t action heavy, but I’ll go all in with a semi open mind lol.

  13. Stacy Dresden says:

    Love Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and agree this looks good!

  14. Teebee says:

    I liked the first Dune. I grew up in the 80s, I thought Dune was twisted and weird, but for an 80s sci fi movie it was beautiful to look at. I knew nothing of the story so it was confusing as hell but as I have rematched it over the years It has come to make sense. I loved the casting, the music. It’s trashy and kitschy and over the top, as many 80s epics are.

    This trailer makes it look like a pure off remake of the first. No scenes used could not be traced back to a similar one from the first. So all I can say is that I’ll probably watch the new one (at home when available) and use my understanding of the first movie as my guide. If it delves deeper into the original source material, I guess that will be good for those that love the book. But for me, I’ll probably do a running comparison in my head of the 80s version. Already I’m thinking, it sure is darker and grittier. I’ll miss the 80s glittering and Toto soundtrack… 🤷‍♀️

  15. Esme says:

    I have a soft spot for the David Lynch movie – it was bonkers in all the right ways, even if it wasn’t clear on the plot. Francesca Annis was a true artist, and I’m sorry she did not get many lead movie parts.
    This new one looks workman-like – I’m sure it’ll be unobjectionable (and they’ll probably soft pedal all the religious references), but I had hoped they would do something more ambitious with a book like Dune. Jorodowski and Lynch were the right sort of visionary director, even if their projects were not successful.

  16. Queen Meghan's Hand says:

    Every thing is a shade a taupe! The sand, the spice, the suits, the actors’ skin, the actors’ hair! Every thing is a shade of brown! Ugh. Why does a serious movie equate to dull and brown production design?
    And I too liked the Lynch Dune. It was weird. And the story of Dune is weird.

  17. osito says:

    I came for the Jason Momoa and will also take the Oscar Isaac off your hands, thankyouverymuch!

    Other than that, I’m excited for this. I’d love to see it in the theater, but this is one movie I’d pay theater prices to see in my own home.

  18. lemonylips says:

    Thank you for mentioning Jodorowsky and his amazing vision. The legacy of a film that was never made is so powerful and it was an amazing documentary to watch. I warmly recommend it to everyone. As a big fan of Dune I have to say I loved his vision very much but I’m open to this one although I think Villeneuve destroyed Blade runner. Striking, yes but also predictable.

  19. Digital Unicorn says:

    The will watch this as while not a fan of the original movie I loved the miniseries that sci fi did years ago. Not sure about timothee as Paul, he seems too young. Zendeya is an internet choice for chani.

    It most of all am so there for the Issac in his bearded glory. He would have made a perfect Paul.

  20. Nonartistic Diane says:

    I am a great fan of the books. I love the looks of this film. Denis Villeneuve is a huge fan of the book and I think will do this novel justice. The look of the Harkonnens and ornithopters alone have me excited. I have a love/hate relationship with the Lynch version. I am definitely excited for this film. Loved the use of Pink Floyd in the trailer, though I can’t wait to hear what Zimmer’s done with the score.

  21. Grant says:

    I don’t think that Jason Momoa is a particularly good actor; he’s always some version of the meathead dude-bro, and this role does not appear to be an exception. But GOOD LORD is he a beautiful man. I would climb him like a tree. I disagree wholeheartedly about the beard. He has a beautiful face and I think he looks best when he’s got a five o’clock shadow, not the scraggly beard.

  22. Marigold says:

    Cannot wait! Huge Dune fan. The trailer looks pretty action oriented. I don’t love that. But we will see. I like the cast. Momoa works fine for me. If they don’t do the worms right, I will not be happy. They are my favorite part!!!

  23. Julie says:

    Something positive about the old movie: Sting in a codpiece. I still think about that, after all these years…uh…excuse me…

  24. SM says:

    Oscar! Like a good wine. It’s all I have to say about this movie

  25. Darla says:

    Jason Momoa always gives his all though. he shows up and he’s very present, and he gives it up. the man is not a lazy performer. You can’t say that about every actor, and frankly, you can’t even say it about every actor in this film judging by the trailer. I’ll definitely see this though.

    • FilmTurtle says:

      THANK YOU for verbalizing what I’ve always kind of liked about JM when there are so many other handsome, muscular himbo-types out there. JM always shows up and is fully present and seems to be enjoying himself; he doesn’t coast. (Same as Dwayne Johnson, come to think of it.)

    • KL says:

      1000% correct. I’ve admired him for this ever since Stargate: Atlantis, where he was given the laziest-written part and proceeded to ACT it into into something worth watching.

  26. Janice Hill says:

    The book is a male power-fest. The most powerful female characters are witch/concubines, sisters of powerful men and love interests. I’m not holding my breath.

    • SpiceWorm says:

      Totally agree with you. Just feels dated in that sense. I saw two ’90s female-led action films from the ’90s recently – The Long Kiss Goodnight and Double Jeopardy – and they were so sexist and dated, though I didn’t think so as a teen when I saw them the first time around.

    • deader than new metal and disco says:

      See, it’s because of comments like yours that idk if I’ll ever give this book series a chance. I have the first book just sitting there on the shelf lol

      I’m tired AF of white male fantasies tbh

  27. SpiceWorm says:

    Looks good and better than I had expected with a strong ensemble cast but seems to have very traditional gender roles – all the men get the best action threads and pivotal bits whilst the women are kind of sacred and quietly powerful in a supporting way. Timothee doesn’t seem quite right to me for this role or is it just me? The character becomes a powerful psychic thanks to the Spice so perhaps someone with an air of spiritual power about him might have been better. Also, the books are meant to be anti-messianist but as expected the movie is kind of heroic and highly messianist in tone. The East Asian actor is Chang Chen (not too sure how to spell his name in English) and a fellow Taiwanese (he was in Crouching Tiger).

    • KL says:

      Unless they do some serious rewrites that’s not the role of the women at all. But how is the first book, at least, anti-messianist? Paul is literally the savior of the universe. it’s not subtle.

      • SpiceWorm says:

        Apparently the author intended the books to, in part, carry warnings about messiahs, as in Paul’s decisions kill a lot of people and start a lot of wars.

        https://www.tor.com/2019/03/06/why-its-important-to-consider-whether-dune-is-a-white-savior-narrative/

      • KL says:

        @SpiceWorm
        Yeah, but again… there’s zip of that present in the first book. And this movie is based on the first book.

        And fwiw, I feel like that article is working overtime in its apologism. Yes, Herbert subverted them with the sequel, but the original novel is all but a cut-and-dried presentation of the standard heroic tropes. The ending is unabashedly triumphant, and it can easily be read as a self-contained story.

        Also, while he was trying to dissuade people from blind hero-worship, Herbert never did seem to grok the racial politics involved — which means some of the “white savior” criticisms are valid even if it’s an anti-savior story. LeGuin did 10x more with HER heroic epic, not least by not making the hero or most people of her world white, and she was publishing at the same time. Tellingly, people actually take her sequels as a connected story. Even those who love “Dune” can be mixed on its sequels, probably because Herbert didn’t set things up well enough to read as cohesive instead of contradictory.

  28. deader than new metal and disco says:

    From what I’ve heard, Dune is nothing but a white male savior fantasy that has less women than Lawrence of Arabia. So I think I’ll skip it.

    Also, I feel like I’m the only one that cannot stand Chalamet. He’s a mediocre actor at best.

    • KL says:

      It definitely has more — and more important — women than LoA, and I give Dune credit for making them just as inconceivably kick-ass amazing as any of the men. But yeah, it’s a white savior fantasy, scifi-flavored Orientalism.