Warner Bros. has set a release date of November 20, 2020 for Legendary and Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s storied sci-fi novel, Dune.
The adaptation has been making headlines frequently over the last month, most recently with the news that Aquaman star Jason Momoa is in negotiations to join the cast in the role of Duncan Idaho. Should Momoa come on board, he’ll join a cast that’s absolutely bursting with talent. Led by Timotheè Chamalet in the role as Paul “Maud’Dib” Atreides, the hunted outlaw and Fremen messiah, the project has also brought on Jessica Ferguson as Paul’s mother the Lady Jessica, Javier Bardem as the Fremen leader Stilgar, Josh Brolin as the troubadour warrior-poet Gurney Halleck, Stellan Skarsgard as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, and Dave Bautista as Glossu “The Beast” Rabban.
Like Momoa, Star Wars’ Oscar Issac and Spider-Man: Homecoming’s Zendaya are currently negotiating deals to come on board in the roles of Duke Leto Atreides, and Chani, respectively.
The synopsis on the back of the novel reads, “Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family — and would bring to fruition humandkind’s most ancient and unattainable dream.”
Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) has been tapped to direct and is co-writing the script with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts. Villeneuve has stated that his goal is to adapt the novel into a two-part film series, and as of May 2018 the first draft has been finished.
“Most of the main ideas of Star Wars are coming from Dune so it’s going to be a challenge to [tackle] this. The ambition is to do the Star Wars movie I never saw. In a way, it’s Star Wars for adults.” said Villeneuve on the script.
Producing is Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Thomas Tull, and Kim Herbert, with Kevin J. Anderson serving as a creative consultant.
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