‘Dune’ Director Compares Paul Atreides to Divisive ‘Star Wars’ Character

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As a longtime fan of sci-fi literature and film, I find myself both intrigued and excited by Denis Villeneuve’s interpretation of Frank Herbert’s Dune saga. Having grown up with the original Dune novel, I must confess that my initial thoughts about Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) were reminiscent of Luke Skywalker. However, after delving deeper into the complexities of the character, I understand why Villeneuve compares him more to Anakin Skywalker.

In contemporary sci-fi productions such as movies, TV series, manga, and literature, you often find traces of classic science fiction literature serving as significant inspirations. For instance, the universe of ‘Blade Runner’ was based on Philip K. Dick’s work, ‘Fallout’ drew inspiration from ‘A Canticle for Liebowitz’ and ‘I Am Legend’, and the creation of ‘Star Wars’ was heavily impacted by Frank Herbert’s ‘Dune’. The similarities between ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Dune’ are so striking that even director Denis Villeneuve has acknowledged them. Interestingly, in a recent interview, this same director compared the character of Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet) from ‘Dune’ to one of the most contentious characters in all of ‘Star Wars’.

Discussing his take on Jake, Denis Villeneuve elaborated on how Paul Atreides resembles two prominent Star Wars characters – Luke and Anakin Skywalker. While some fans have drawn parallels between Paul and Luke Skywalker from the original Dune novel, author Frank Herbert envisioned Paul as a chilling antagonist rather than an idealistic hero. This is why he penned Dune Messiah, which Villeneuve is now adapting into Dune: Part Three. He said:

George Lucas drew significant inspiration from the book “Dune”. On occasion, I humorously suggest that one of the better adaptations of “Dune” is “Star Wars”.

In Denis Villeneuve’s movies, “Dune” and “Dune: Part Two,” the director chose to adapt Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi novel with the intention of creating a trilogy. While Paul Atreides is portrayed as a hero in Herbert’s second “Dune” book, “Dune Messiah,” Villeneuve decided to set the stage for Paul’s character transformation into a villain early on. In “Part Two,” Paul makes a dramatic decision at the end, turning away from Chani (Zendaya) and declaring war against the allies of Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken).

‘Dune 3’ Will Feature Lots of Action

During the interview, Denis Villeneuve hinted at what viewers might experience in Dune: Part Three. Although he didn’t disclose specific story points, the director shared that the third installment will be packed with action. Villeneuve also talked about Frank Herbert’s unique approach to battle scenes in his writing, often describing battles in past tense and having two characters recount them instead of showing them. However, Villeneuve assured us that Dune: Part Three will depart from this method, as it falls on him as the writer and director to make those battles come alive on screen. He elaborated by saying:

When revisiting the initial book, “Dune,” you may notice a recurring pattern where two characters frequently enter a room after a fight and remark, “Wow, that was a battle.” Many characters refer to their actions this way throughout the series. As a screenwriter, the aim is to delve deeper into these descriptions and bring out the hidden depths, as there’s an abundance of rich material waiting to be explored.

As of now, there isn’t a set release date for “Dune: Part Three.” Director Denis Villeneuve has hinted that filming might start around 2025, but this hasn’t been formally announced. In the interim, enthusiasts are immersed in the contentious HBO prequel series, “Dune: Prophecy,” which is currently being aired.

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2024-12-09 22:32