Denis Villeneuve (Wrong director for Dune)
Why the new “Dune” (2021/2024) is not a good book adaptation
Briefly: I was working on book-related content (still in progress!), but… another thought came up.
“Dune” adaptations — three films, one series. I haven’t watched the series yet, but I have seen Denis Villeneuve’s films (2021/2024).
And that’s what I want to talk about today.
I’d like to explain why I think the newest “Dune” is not a good adaptation.
1. Problems with the directing
- Denis Villeneuve is an excellent visual director (“Blade Runner 2049,” “Incendies”), but he’s not the right person to adapt such a complex and philosophical work as “Dune.”
- “Dune” is not just about spectacular sandworms and desert landscapes — it’s about politics, ecology, religion, philosophy, and sociology.
- The film only lightly touches on the book’s themes, ignoring its true depth.
2. The worldbuilding is shallow
What do we actually learn after almost 3 hours of film?
- The Fremen are oppressed by the Harkonnens.
- Caladan is the home planet of House Atreides.
- Paul has prophetic dreams.
- From Paul’s book, we learn a bit about Fremen, sandworms, and spice.
- Shaddam IV from House Corrino is the Emperor.
- House Atreides takes over Arrakis on the Emperor’s order, knowing it’s a trap.
- How personal shields work.
- A small fragment about vegetation on Arrakis.
- Sandworms are attracted by rhythmic vibrations.
- Using shields in the deep desert means certain death.
For a movie that’s 2h 35min long, that’s shockingly little information, especially compared to the rich worldbuilding of the book.
3. Shallow relationships between characters
- Paul and Duke Leto — only one scene building their bond.
- Leto and Jessica — one scene.
- Paul and Jessica — a few scenes, but still lacking depth.
- Paul and Thufir — their dynamic is completely missing.
- Paul and Duncan — no proper development of their bond.
- Paul and Gurney — one brief scene.
Character relationships were one of the pillars of Herbert’s novel — almost completely ignored in the film.
4. Ignored foundations of the world
The world of “Dune” is much more than desert and spice!
In the film, many crucial elements were skipped or barely touched:
- Water discipline — Fremen lived by recovering every drop of water.
- The Spacing Guild — monopoly on space travel, a major political power.
- Fremen religion — shaped by Bene Gesserit manipulation, the Mahdi mythos.
- Bene Gesserit breeding program — aiming to create the Kwisatz Haderach.
- Bene Gesserit skills — The Voice is just the tip of the iceberg (they also control metabolism, detect lies, and read emotions).
- Mentats — human computers, vital after the Butlerian Jihad.
- CHOAM Company — the giant trade organization tied to imperial politics.
5. Changes in characters and political correctness
SPOILERS
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Changes:
- Dr. Liet Kynes — gender-swapped to female.
In Fremen society (heavily inspired by patriarchal desert cultures), this change breaks the internal logic of the world. - Chani — portrayed as an angry feminist. The original Chani was strong without needing to shout about it.
6. Oversimplified politics
- The movie reduces politics to:
“Evil Harkonnens + evil Emperor vs poor Atreides.” - In reality, the politics in “Dune” were subtle, complex, and full of hidden manipulations.
The Emperor feared House Atreides’ rising power, the Guild blackmailed everyone, and the Bene Gesserit pulled strings behind the scenes.
7. Aesthetic over substance
- The film is undeniably beautiful.
- But style wins over storytelling.
- Long, slow scenes often add no real content — the time could’ve been used to develop the world, characters, and relationships.
I understand that adapting a book as deep as “Dune” is a huge challenge.
I understand cinematic compromises.
But in Villeneuve’s case, I feel great disappointment: beautiful imagery but a shallow, simplified story that fails to capture the grandeur and complexity of Herbert’s masterpiece.
And you?
What do you think about the new “Dune” movies?
Did they manage to capture the soul of the book for you, or do you feel the same sense of missed potential?
