Denis Villeneuve has said that his Dune adaptation will be split into two movies because the world of Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi novel is “too complex” to fit into a single feature film.
“I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie,” Villeneuve told Vanity Fair. “The world is too complex. It’s a world that takes its power in details.”
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The original novel is an incredibly dense and multi-layered story, with many rival factions and characters set against the backdrop of a futuristic human civilization, making it notoriously difficult for filmmakers to adapt for the big screen.
“It’s a book that tackles politics, religion, ecology, spirituality—and with a lot of characters,” Villeneuve explained. “I think that’s why it’s so difficult. Honestly, it’s by far the most difficult thing I’ve done in my life.”
Villeneuve’s reboot is the first of a planned duology adapting the original book, which chronicles the struggle between warring houses in a distant future where a psychotropic spice known as Melange is the most coveted resource in the universe.
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Villeneuve has assembled an incredible cast for his adaptation, one that includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa and Javier Bardem.
For more on Villeneuve’s first Dune movie, take a look at the latest photos of the cast in their costumes on set, find out about the disgusting yet practical function of their sci-fi suits, and read our explainer to learn more about the franchise and what to expect from the upcoming adaptation.
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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Source: IGN.com Dune: Director Explains Why His Adaptation Will Be Split Across Two Movies