Summary

Villeneuve’s
Dune
adaptations captivate audiences, focusing on
Dune
and
Dune Messiah
without delving into
Children of Dune
.
Denis Villeneuve sees
Dune Messiah
as the final film in his trilogy, aiming to wrap up Paul’s arc and the
Dune
series.
Despite Villeneuve’s future departure, the
Dune
universe remains open for potential new directors seeking to maintain quality adaptations.

Denis Villeneuve achieved the impossible with Dune and Dune: Part Two. He managed to adapt Frank Herbert’s renowned sci-fi novel of the same name and capture the essence of Herbert’s meticulous storytelling. Villeneuve brought Herbert’s vision to the big screen and built a concise plot for audiences to understand the lore of Dune and the more complex concepts of the novel. Despite the initial skepticism from audiences and critics when it was announced that Villeneuve would tackle this classic novel, the visionary director created a cinematic masterpiece that’s defined the 2020s, a feat not many other films have achieved.

The journey continues as Villeneuve is set to return to direct Dune 3, a film adapting the novel sequel, Dune Messiah. The second book is a continuation of Paul’s story and his reign as emperor of the universe. With this third film creating the Dune Trilogy, many are already asking what’s next. At one point, fans assumed that Villeneuve would adapt the novels up until God Emperor of Dune, which follows Leto II, Paul’s son, in his tyrannical reign as the new emperor. However, the critically acclaimed director has been vocal about the third film installment being his last. It seems his intention is to focus on Paul’s arc and wrap up this chapter in the Dune series.

Villeneuve Wants to Avoid Children of Dune

Before Denis Villeneuve and after David Lynch’s adaptation, there was a Dune miniseries that concluded the Paul Atreides storyline and focused on his legacy and his children. The Emmy-winning television series was an adaptation of Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. After Paul abdicates his role as emperor and exiles himself to the desert, the story shifts to focus on his children, Leto II and Ghanima, and their role in the many prophecies of the series. The narrative revolves around the idea of “The Golden Path” and the future of the universe. Much like Herbert’s novel, the series takes crazy twists and turns, but it still managed to adapt the challenging aspects of Herbert’s storytelling.

Villeneuve has expressed his interest in wanting to focus his film adaptations on the plots of Dune and Dune Messiah. He revealed to Time Magazine that the third installment of the franchise would be his last one.

“Dune Messiah
should be the last Dune movie for me.”

He went on to say that these three films were his dream and told Deadline in another interview that the plot in the novels that succeed the first two becomes “esoteric.” The director takes “an old soul” approach to filmmaking, so his desire for a trilogy format is on brand for the creative.

Fan Response to the Dune Miniseries

Despite some minor issues regarding the costuming and performances throughout the series, the miniseries had the approval of longtime fans of Herbert’s novels, but nothing is truly perfect. A few Reddit users expressed their love for the show and praised its adaptation of Herbert’s story.

User r/dune said:

“At the time, some of the graphics were top-notch, though some of the acting was a bit sketchy in points, as are some of the costumes.
I actually quite like it, and I’m enjoying the rewatch as it has some nostalgia for me and also seems to stick pretty close to the books. I absolutely loved it when it came out.”

Another user, Clarky1979, said:

“It’s the closest adaptation thus far and doesn’t take too many creative liberties in respect of the actual plot or dialogue, especially compared to Lynch’s version, which we all know has many of its own issues but also charms.”

Fans agree that the Emmy wins were well deserved and that the miniseries accomplished giving life to Herbert’s characters and portraying the high stakes of the story.

The Future Is Bright for Dune

Denis Villeneuve’s departure from Dune doesn’t suggest that it’s the end of the story. With Dune: Prophecy, a Dune spin-off set to premiere on Max, nothing is impeding other directors from joining the franchise and contributing their creativity to an adaptation. Villeneuve has opened the doors to the Dune universe, and should other directors step in, they would need to meet the standards he has set with his love and respect for the source material. They could follow with their own trilogy format or take inspiration from the 2000 miniseries.

Villeneuve created endless possibilities for a beloved book series; ultimately, quality over quantity is essential when adapting a novel and expanding a franchise, as audiences will quickly feel burnt out if Dune isn’t given the respect it deserves. Fans want to feel the essence of the book in the film, and they want the film to evoke the same feelings the novel evoked. Dune is streaming on Max and Hulu. The Dune miniseries is available to buy on Amazon.