Come the end of 2019, fans of Star Wars will be able to experience the concluding chapter of the sequel trilogy. Love it or hate it, it will undeniably be an incredible moment for science fiction fans, bringing a close to the Skywalker Saga.
But science fiction fans shouldn’t cry too hard. After all, Denis Villeneuve will be bringing another sci-fi epic to the big screen: Dune. Frank Herbert’s Dune remains the pillar of science fiction storytelling; it’s The Lord of the Rings of the genre. No other story has ever impacted the science fiction genre like Dune. In fact, Dune in many ways inspired George Lucas.
So does Dune have a chance at being a better film than Star Wars Episode IX? It certainly has a chance at being better…but it isn’t a guarantee.
(Dune) A Focused Narrative
The problem with several science fiction space stories is that the story becomes spread out. There is a desire to show the whole universe, and, thus, things sprawl out of control. The Last Jedi, for example, featured no less than four separate planets — to say nothing of the scenes in space.
While Dune does feature multiple planets as well—most notably Caladan and Giedi Prime—the bulk of the story takes place on Arrakis. While many science fiction fans might be disappointed by the lack of variety, the focus on one planet actually grounds the story. It saves the storytellers time on exploring the whole universe. It keeps the conflict focused and tight. What happens on Arrakis, after all, affects billions of star systems.
(Star Wars) Carrie Fisher’s Legacy
Carrie Fisher passed before The Last Jedi was released, but her legacy continues into Star Wars Episode IX, which will be her final film appearance. While this may not affect the plot too drastically (the film was written with Carrie Fisher’s passing in mind), every scene featuring the late actress will carry such incredible weight knowing the in-universe and real-life context of her presence.
Even fans who hate the Disney era of Star Wars can admit this will add an emotional level to the film.
(Dune) An Incredible Cast
There is no doubt that Star Wars has a great cast of actors. It would be foolish to criticize the acting talents of Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, or Academy Award Nominee Adam Driver. However, if one compared the sheer clout of Dune’s cast to the cast of Star Wars Episode IX…one can’t help but get a little giddy just looking at it.
Ignoring the fact that Oscar Isaac is also in Dune, Dune has Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgard, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin — these are all well-known stars, playing characters that seem perfectly suited to their talents. To say nothing of the actor playing protagonist Paul Atreides: Academy Award Nominee Timothée Chalamet.
Maybe all the actors will do a terrible job. Maybe the film will not be a sum of its parts. But this cast should make you excited.
(Dune) We Already Know the Story
Star Wars Episode IX’s plot is a secret. No one knows what will happen in that film. As indicated with the fan theory debacles that circulated The Last Jedi, literally no one has any idea what to expect with that film. This could be incredible or terrible — again, depending on your viewpoint of the film.
However, we already know the story of Dune. The book came out in the 1960s. While Denis Villeneuve will inevitably take liberties with the source material (and only adapt the first half of the story), there is no mystery about the general plot of the film. This means the uncertainty and anticipation about the plot working probably won’t be a factor. The only question is will the book be well-adapted.
(Star Wars) No Restrictions On Creativity
The flip-side of the coin is that, since we already know the plot of Dune, any liberties taken will be treated with criticism by fans. While Denis Villeneuve will be able to tell a great story on the big screen, he will be simultaneously shackled to the source material.
J. J. Abrams has no such restrictions. He can do whatever he wants. He can make any creative choice, and fans will just have to accept it. Because it could very well work. And, after The Last Jedi, fans probably won’t be surprised by an insane number of twists Abrams wants to pull.
(Dune) Denis Villeneuve
J. J. Abrams is an incredible director. We know he can bring his talents to the Star Wars franchise quite successfully, as proven with The Force Awakens. However, it cannot be understated that fans of Frank Herbert’s book should be overjoyed that Denis Villeneuve is working on Dune.
Denis Villeneuve is one of the best living directors working right now. Blade Runner 2049 was an incredible sci-fi epic, but, beyond that, he brought the world Sicario and Prisoners, two incredibly tense films that offered audiences an unforgettable experience. Any Villeneuve film is worthy of the hype. But him tackling one of the most influential works of sci-fi ever? Even better.
(Star Wars) Pure Spectacle
Modern sci-fi fans, however, may be surprised to learn that most of Dune takes place in a desert. It is more a Game of Thrones-esque story of rivaling royal houses competing. Feints-within-feints-within-feints rather than starship battles or gunfights. Sure, there are fights, but they’re more means to an end.
Dune will not show audiences the sheer spectacle of space adventure and fantasy that every Star Wars film—even the worst among them—offers. Regardless of the quality of the plot, Star Wars movies offer a spectacle that blows audiences away. And, regardless of what people think of the sequel trilogy, the films in it pack a lot of heart, so the sequences won’t just be explosions, but emotionally intense moments to boot.
The lack of star fights in Dune might genuinely disappoint modern genre fans.
(Dune) Shakespearean Tragedy
Dune isn’t a spectacle story. It is, however, a drama of Shakespearean legacy.
While Dune certainly influenced Star Wars (especially in Lucas’s earlier drafts), a better modern comparison to Dune is George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. Both feature tons of characters with complex, morally ambiguous natures competing on a political and physical battlefield. Children neglected by the plots of their family’s adversaries are left to fester and enact revenge.
It is truly Shakespearean in nature.
(Star Wars) The Weight Of A Legacy
Star Wars Episode IX is the 11th theatrical Star Wars film. It stands as the culmination of everything that came before it. Because of that, by the time the credits roll, the film will leave a resounding weight on the shoulders of its audience, for better or worse.
Because of that, Star Wars Episode IX is less a film and more of a cultural landmark in the making. Everyone is going to see it, regardless of what you thought of any of the prior films. The weight of the saga makes this film feel more intense than an ordinary film. For that reason alone, Episode IX is an event.
(Dune) No Legacy
Ironically, despite creating many of the tropes and concepts sci-fi films like Star Wars ripped off—and despite having over 20 novels in its series—Dune itself has little cinematic legacy. The David Lynch adaptation from the ’80s is a cult classic with its fans (including the writer of this article), as well as two miniseries created for SyFy (back when it was still called The Sci-Fi Channel). However, not a single one of these compares to the legacy of George Lucas’s Star Wars.
Star Wars Episode IX, before it even comes out, will be compared to every film that came before it. Dune will be compared to its original novel. Its fans have been so starved of quality content that they will see this film as their own oasis in the desert. It doesn’t have to follow the rules of 10 prior films in a franchise or carry over themes started by a different director back in the ’70s. It just has to be good.
And in the coming decade, isn’t it refreshing to watch a sci-fi film without ranking it on a list of 11 films, and being forced to have an opinion in an increasingly divisive debate? Dune might be more exciting to watch than Star Wars Episode IX because, after watching it, you won’t be drafted into a war based on your opinion.
