Sci-Fi Dune

[Pink Ranger]

I think it will be hard enough to adapt properly so let's start with the good stuff directly ( Dune ) and if it sticks the books sequels ( Messiah etc ).

On a personal note, I found the prequel books not very well written and some parts even diminish the mythology of Frank Herbert's story.
Dune Encyclopedia is a better read than the whole prequels books.

The prequel and non-Frank books have compelling plotlines, but are poorly written. That might actually be an advantage for adapting them into a TV series, because you can basically give the plot outline to a skilled scriptwriter, and they can even improve upon the material. Starting with the prequels also gives the chance to establish all the detailed in-universe stuff, so when the real Dune story begins, all the background material is already set.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

I understand your point of view but I disagree about the compelling plotlines. The idea of writing prequels was fine but what was written was not in my opinion.
There is enough great stuff and material in Frank's books to start where he did.
It would be, somehow, like starting GoT with the "prequels to be", no need for that I think.
Personally the one thing in the prequels I liked was that a Harkonnen bore my name.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Personally the one thing in the prequels I liked was that a Harkonnen bore my name.

Damn straight, Abulurd.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Damn straight, Abulurd.

 

[Sithborg]

The prequel and non-Frank books have compelling plotlines, but are poorly written. That might actually be an advantage for adapting them into a TV series, because you can basically give the plot outline to a skilled scriptwriter, and they can even improve upon the material. Starting with the prequels also gives the chance to establish all the detailed in-universe stuff, so when the real Dune story begins, all the background material is already set.

The first trilogy was very much Kevin J Anderson, I feel. And really should be ignored.

The Butlerian Jihad books were better. And I do like the "in-between-quels" they did, even if they did heavily use the bad prequel stuff. Haven't gotten around to reading the new, post Butlerian Jihad stuff, but they did improve the writing as they went along, I feel. I am just curious how much of the Dune 7 stuff came from the notes.

 

[TheVileOne]

On a personal level, Dune is the only book in the series I genuinely like. The sequels just never did it for me.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

On a personal level, Dune is the only book in the series I genuinely like. The sequels just never did it for me.

It's my favorite too followed by The God Emperor of Dune.

 

[Gabe99]

How 'Dune' Could Give Legendary Its Very Own 'Star Wars'
What if the studio planned something other than direct adaptations of the Frank Herbert sci-fi prose series?

 

[Fallen Angel]

Dune isn't like Star Wars it's more like Game of Thrones.

 

[dark_b]

The first mistake they will or would make with a Dune movie is that it would be a 2 hour set up for sequels. And they would brute force an insane amount of story and characters in one movie. Again set up. You know its true. Ohhhhhh how i liked what they did with Warcraft.....not.

it is possible to plan sequels and a big franchise.............and still make a movie with a finished story at the end. I know this because i grew up with movies like this.

 

[Gabe99]

 

[jfurioso]

It's like all sci-fi written between 1960-1990 was just drug induced. Telepathic dragons and ****....yeah, you wrote that sober.

Hey, whatever works. Ask Grant Morrison.

 

[Fallen Angel]

http://theplaylist.net/denis-villen...9-wont-answer-deckard-replicant-not-20161207/

Denis Villeneuve has reiterated his “longstanding dream” to make an adaptation of “Dune,” and tells Premiere he’d gladly meet with Legendary, who recently snapped up the film and TV rights to Frank Herbert‘s classic work. He’s not sure what their approach to the material will be, but he’s very open to hearing what they want to do. And in case you’re wondering, the director is not a fan of David Lynch‘s 1984 film…..

 

[Pink Ranger]

The good thing is, having Denis Villeneuve attached to it will bring in the film intellectual crowd, and give this property the artistic legitimacy it deserves. Another deserving director (i.e. Chris Nolan, Ridley Scott) might be unfairly dismissed by the snoots as "doing Star Wars stuff."

 

[Rowsdower!]

Given how creepy and weird the aliens looked in Arrival, I bet Denis could make some killer sandworms.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Given how creepy and weird the aliens looked in Arrival, I bet Denis could make some killer sandworms.

Denis could deliver both on both the "big toy" stuff like the sandworms, atomics and guild ships, and also on the intimate levels of violence and manipulation of this story.

 

[Rowsdower!]

Yeah. I just hope he wouldn't go TOO weird with this like he did in Enemy. Though I doubt he would.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

A GREAT choice if he gets tapped. Watching ARRIVAL I was thinking how he would handle DUNE.

 

[green]

Given how creepy and weird the aliens looked in Arrival, I bet Denis could make some killer sandworms.

The aliens in Arrival were sort of Navigator like.

I think Villeneuve would be a good fit intellectually and visually, I think he's lacking what Legendary probably wants in the sense of franchise building and action. I'd love to be proven wrong on that though. We'll see with Bladerunner but Arrival didn't give me much faith.

 

[Schlosser85]

Arrival wasn't that kind of movie though, so I don't know if it gives us any indication one way or another.

 

[Fallen Angel]

If you went into ARRIVAL looking for action its' your own stupid fault as nothing in the trailers nor the book it was based on indicates it was an action movie. It's cerebral sci-fi.

 

[terry78]

Well, considering how drawn out Dune's subject matter can get, have at it.

 

[green]

Arrival wasn't that kind of movie though, so I don't know if it gives us any indication one way or another.

If you went into ARRIVAL looking for action its' your own stupid fault as nothing in the trailers nor the book it was based on indicates it was an action movie. It's cerebral sci-fi.

Nah, I wasn't just referring to Arrival but all his work…Arrival was just the last thing I have to make a reference too, it's his only movie that left me rather meh.

 

[TheVileOne]

Dune is never going to be Star Wars. It's not Star Wars. And it will never be a serious competitor to Star Wars. And I think aiming for that is a mistake.

The Star Wars movies are epic space operas with grand sweeping narratives, but they are also broadly themed adventure serials.

Dune isn't an adventure serial. It's trippy heady science fiction. You can't mold it into something akin to Harry Potter either.

Well, I guess you technically could. However, that won't turn out well either.

Now do I think Villeneuve could do a good job handling a faithful adaptation of the original novel? Yes I can. However, Legendary wants a big action adventure franchise. And I think they are not understanding that Dune really isn't that. It's not really blockbuster material unless you severely dumb it down.

 

[green]

Dune is never going to be Star Wars. It's not Star Wars. And it will never be a serious competitor to Star Wars. And I think aiming for that is a mistake.

The Star Wars movies are epic space operas with grand sweeping narratives, but they are also broadly themed adventure serials.

Dune isn't an adventure serial. It's trippy heady science fiction. You can't mold it into something akin to Harry Potter either.

Well, I guess you technically could. However, that won't turn out well either.

Now do I think Villeneuve could do a good job handling a faithful adaptation of the original novel? Yes I can. However, Legendary wants a big action adventure franchise. And I think they are not understanding that Dune really isn't that. It's not really blockbuster material unless you severely dumb it down.

Precisely.