Dune 2021

Movie · 155 min · English · September 3, 2021

Epic Science fiction Science fiction adventure

Directed by Denis VilleneuveWritten by Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth

Starring Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård

A 2021 American epic space opera film, Dune (titled on-screen as Dune: Part One), was co-produced and directed by Denis Villeneuve, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth. This movie represents the first of a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel and marks the beginning of Villeneuve's Dune film trilogy. The cast features Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. Set in a distant future, the story centers on Paul Atreides (Chalamet), whose family, the noble House Atreides, becomes involved in a conflict over the harsh desert world of Arrakis.

This film is the third version of Dune ever made, after David Lynch’s 1984 movie and John Harrison’s 2000 TV miniseries. Following an earlier unsuccessful effort by Paramount Pictures to develop a new adaptation, Legendary Pictures purchased the film and television rights in 2016, with Villeneuve being appointed as director in February 2017. The production contracts were limited to just the first movie, depending on its performance before moving forward with a sequel. Principal photography occurred between March and July 2019 across locations including Hungary, Jordan, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, and others.

Originally planned for a late 2020 release, Dune was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It made its debut at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2021, followed by an international rollout on September 15, 2021. The film was then shown in U.S. theaters and streamed on HBO Max on October 22, 2021. With total earnings of $411 million on a $165 million budget, it received strong praise from critics and viewers alike. It earned six awards at the 94th Academy Awards and was nominated for four additional categories, along with various other honors.

The second part of the series, Dune: Part Two, came out on March 1, 2024, adapting the second portion of Herbert’s novel. A third film, Dune: Part Three, based on Dune Messiah from 1969, is set for release on December 18, 2026.