The next film fromArrivalandBlade Runner 2049filmmakerDenis Villeneuveis coming together quite nicely. It’s calledDune, it’s a massive sci-fi adaptation, and the cast thus far is incredible.Timothee Chalametis onboard to lead theFrank Herbertadaptation as Paul Atreides, the son of a fallen noble family who is forced to escape to the desert and partner with its nomadic tribes. His enhanced mental abilities lead the nomads to believe he’s their messiah, and he ultimately leads an uprising against a galactic emperor.
One of the film’s villains has now been set, asTHRreports thatStellan Skarsgardhas signed on to play Baron Harkonnen, a man whose family had a long hatred of the Atreides family and plots with the galactic emperor to destroy it. Skarsgard’s character is also the uncle to a brutish characterto be played byDave Bautista. As if that wasn’t enough,Rebecca Fergusonco-stars as Chalamet’s mother.
Villeneuve has long been a fan of theDunenovel and selected the project as his big follow-up toBlade Runner 2049, which was a critical hit but fell somewhat short at the box office. Villeneuve co-wrote theDunescript withEric Roth(The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) andJon Spaihts(Passengers), and filming is due to begin this spring in Budapest and Jordan.
There’s been talk of Villeneuve’sDunemovie actually being a two-parter, but it’s unclear if both parts are being shot together as one long movie or if that all just depends on how this first movie does. Villeneuve’sBlade RunnerandSicariocinematographerRoger Deakinswas unavailable, so he’ll continue his penchant for working with incredible DPs by bringingZero Dark ThirtyandRogue OnecinematographerGreig Fraseronboard. Moreover,Indiewirereports that he’ll be reuniting with hisBlade Runner 2049andArrivaleditorJoe Walkeron the project. Walker is one of the best in the business, having also edited12 Years a SlaveandWidows.
Dunedoesn’t yet have a release date from Legendary Pictures, but we can’t wait to see it.
