How is the New Dune? Creators Compare it to Star Wars
We're getting more and more details about one of the hottest movie premiere of the year - Dune. This time the creators outline the visual character of the work, drawing attention to its links with the Star Wars series.
Dennis Villeneuve points out that this year's adaptation of Dune is an adult version of Star Wars. The fast-paced action and lightsaber fights will give way to slow narrative and geopolitics.
However, the biggest differences are to be seen against the visual background. In recent years, the director has become famous mainly for his collaboration with the outstanding cinematographer Roger Deakins, responsible for shooting Labyrinth (2013), Sicario (2015) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). This changes on the occasion of Diune, as Deakins is replaced by Greig Fraser.
Fraser's output is as rich as that of his predecessor, though somewhat less abundant in film awards. Titles that have been used include War Zero Dark Thirty (2012) or fantasy Snow White and the Huntsman, but also star works such as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(2016) and The Mandalorian. The cameraman tells how his previous experience influenced the work on Dune:
“It was quite fun because I had to forget a lot of Star Wars when I was making Dune. It wasn’t hard, though. Denis and I spoke clearly about how the film should look and should feel, and the formats and this and that, so it was not hard to swerve and change lanes. There were some similarities like the deserts. [...] I had to be careful doing both [Dune and The Mandalorian] and not to repeat myself. Also not just for the sake of the movie, but for fun. I hate to do the same thing twice.”
Fraser was also not afraid to accuse George Lucas of borrowing some things from Frank Herbert's book original:
"I mean listen, ultimately I’m positive George Lucas was inspired by Dune when he made Star Wars. I don’t know if that’s sacrilegious to talk about, but there are a lot of similarities in some areas, so you could tell he was definitely influenced by that."
From the photographs we can conclude that Villeneuve will continue his minimalistic drive, leaving us with many empty, monochromatic spaces. The fundamental differences can also be seen in the costumes. Star Wars was all about anachronistic robes, ominous cloaks and uncomfortable suits, when in Dune the aesthetic and practical outfits, which, for example, control the moisture produced by man, lead the way.
Dune is to appear in cinemas on December 17. It is one of this year's most important premieres alongside Christopher Nolan's Tenet and Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch.
