Top 10 Things Dune Parts One and Two Change From the Book
These epic sci-fi flicks couldn't keep everything from the books. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at ways Denis Villeneuve’s first two “Dune” movies differ from Frank Herbert’s original novel.
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00:00 [Sounds of a storm]
00:07 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at ways Denis Villeneuve's first two Dune movies differ from Frank Herbert's original novel.
00:15 For cinephiles and readers, there are spoilers on both fronts.
00:19 "Here, we're equal. What we do, we do for the benefit of all."
00:25 "Well, I'd very much like to be equal to you."
00:30 "Maybe I'll show you the way."
00:32 Number 10. Emperor Shaddam's older appearance.
00:36 "Deal with this prophet. Send assassins."
00:40 Dune Part 2 introduces us to Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, played by Christopher Walken.
00:45 The book establishes Shaddam as 72 years old.
00:48 Walken may seem age-appropriate since he's now in his 80s, but the book notes that Shaddam looks like a 35-year-old, maybe even younger.
00:57 A regular dosage of spice does wonders for one's looks.
01:00 "Your father...
01:02 [Sounds of a storm]
01:07 ...was a weak man."
01:08 While Villeneuve could have cast a younger actor or de-aged Walken, he opted to have Shaddam look his age.
01:14 Had Shaddam appeared younger like in the book, we imagine outsiders would question why he looks roughly the same age as his daughter.
01:20 With Walken's casting, the film avoids an exposition dump.
01:24 David Lynch's Dune and the 2000 miniseries also went with older actors, casting José Ferrer and Giancarlo Giannini respectively.
01:32 Number 9. Paul vs. Jamis.
01:35 "You should welcome my blade.
01:40 This world will kill you...
01:45 quicker this way."
01:46 The first half of Villeneuve's adaptation builds to a confrontation between Paul Atreides and Jamis of the Fremen tribe.
01:53 In the novel and film, this duel ends with blood on Paul's hands.
01:56 The movie makes a few significant changes, however.
02:00 Before officially meeting, Paul has visions of Jamis, seeing a path where they become friends.
02:05 "You have much to learn.
02:08 I will show you the ways of the desert.
02:14 Come with me."
02:15 Instead, Paul proves himself to the Fremen by defeating Jamis, although some view him as a murderer rather than a messiah.
02:23 "He said that."
02:25 "I got that.
02:27 Thanks."
02:28 In addition to not having visions of Jamis in the book, Paul and Lady Jessica spend more time with the Fremen before the fight takes place.
02:35 The film sets Paul up as a more divisive figure and emphasizes how his visions can lead to different outcomes.
02:41 "I see possible futures all at once.
02:45 And in so many futures, our enemies prevail.
02:49 But I do see a way.
02:50 There is a narrow way through."
02:52 Number 8. Faye de Rautherhagen's appearance.
02:56 "He's psychotic."
03:01 Brought to life by Austin Butler, Faye de Rautherhagen is another figure who debuts in 'Dune Part 2.'
03:06 While Butler accurately portrays Faye de Rautherhagen's menacing charisma, the film makes some tweaks to his appearance.
03:12 In the book, you wouldn't necessarily guess Faye de Rautherhagen and Baron Vladimir Rautherhagen are related based on appearance.
03:19 "The desert takes the weak.
03:23 My desert.
03:27 My Arrakis.
03:31 My dune."
03:32 In addition to not looking much like his uncle, Faye de Rautherhagen stands out from most of the Harkonnen.
03:37 Although Faye de Rautherhagen is much leaner than the Baron in Villeneuve's adaptation,
03:41 his physical appearance otherwise doesn't stick out drastically.
03:44 Gone is his dark hair, instead rocking a bald head like the rest of House Harkonnen.
03:49 The film relies more on Butler's expressions and body language,
03:53 which tells the audience that Faye de Rautherhagen is deadlier than the average Harkonnen.
03:57 "Deal with this prophet.
04:01 Show me who you are."
04:05 Number 7. 'The Dinner Party.'
04:07 "By the fireplace, Lingar Butte.
04:10 Watershipper from the polar region.
04:12 Man to his right..."
04:13 "Spacing guild representative, how could I miss him?"
04:16 "The man with Tufa is Esma Tuek, smuggler.
04:18 Highly successful.
04:20 He has false shapes.
04:22 If we need them."
04:23 Even with two films that have a combined runtime of 322 minutes,
04:28 a few moments from Herbert's first novel were inevitably omitted.
04:32 One of the most prominent scenes not to make the cut sees the Atreides attend a
04:36 dinner not long after arriving on Arrakis, hosted by Duke Leto.
04:40 The banquet includes merchants, smugglers, guild bankers, and various others.
04:44 "If it weren't for the spice, no one would bother about it at all."
04:47 "Fortunately enough, for a water seller like you, I would guess."
04:53 This not only expands upon the universe that Herbert created,
04:56 but also dives deeper into the political tensions surrounding this planet.
05:00 In a production this lengthy and expensive,
05:03 we understand why they would have to exclude any scenes that aren't 100% necessary.
05:08 "We both suffer the solitude of our birthright."
05:10 "Except that tomorrow, you'll return to the comfort of your palaces on Caitain."
05:15 "To the confinement of its perfect gardens and lonely apartments."
05:19 'The Dinner Party' might not have been essential,
05:21 but it encompassed some of the franchise's finest world-building
05:25 and could have further elevated Villeneuve's adaptation.
05:27 Number 6.
05:28 Liet Kynes' gender.
05:30 "Bless the maker and his water. Bless the coming and going of him."
05:34 "May his passage cleanse the world and keep the world for his people."
05:40 Johnny is barely in 'Dune Part 1' and Princess Irulan was reserved for 'Part 2'.
05:45 It makes sense why Villeneuve aspired to create more roles for women.
05:49 Otherwise, Lady Jessica would be the only female with substantial screen time.
05:53 Sharon Duncan Brewster plays Dr. Liet Kynes,
05:56 who was male in Herbert's book and previous adaptations.
05:59 "Arrakis could have been a paradise. The work had begun, but then the spice was discovered."
06:05 "Suddenly, no one wanted the desert to go away."
06:08 As Villeneuve saw it, this quote doesn't change the nature of the character.
06:11 It just makes it closer to the world today and more relevant and, frankly, more interesting.
06:16 Beyond the gender swap, Kynes meets a slightly different fate in the film.
06:20 Instead of dying from dehydration and delirium after being stranded in the desert,
06:24 Kynes is given a more triumphant exit, summoning a sandworm that consumes her and her attackers.
06:29 "I serve only one master. His name is Shai-Hulud."
06:35 Number 5.
06:40 Lady Jessica's increased role.
06:42 "We gave them something to hope for."
06:44 "That's not her!"
06:46 Lady Jessica has always been an important figure,
06:48 but Villeneuve's two films develop her into an even more layered character.
06:52 The book describes Jessica as Leto Atreides' quote, "concubine."
06:56 While the film doesn't change her role, Jessica commands more respect,
07:00 and Duke Leto is more openly affectionate towards her.
07:03 The film also removes a plot point where Jessica is suspected of being a Harkonnen spy.
07:07 "Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death that brings obliteration."
07:15 After escaping into the desert with Paul and becoming a reverend mother,
07:19 Jessica's presence in the novel is slowly but surely reduced.
07:22 Not wanting Rebecca Ferguson to be quote, "an expensive extra,"
07:26 Villeneuve sought to make Jessica a constant presence.
07:29 Dune Part 2 thus sees her interact more with Paul and the Fremen,
07:32 proving to have a powerful influence.
07:35 "Do you believe in Paul?"
07:36 "Bitter science."
07:39 Number 4.
07:41 Chani's dynamic with Paul.
07:43 "I won't be fighting for him.
07:45 I'm fighting for my people."
07:46 Like Lady Jessica, Chani was integral to the book,
07:49 but she's taken to new depths in the movies, especially Dune Part 2.
07:54 The film does an effective job of building a loving relationship between her and Paul,
07:58 which makes it all the more tragic when they're driven apart.
08:01 "I want you to know, I will love you as long as I breathe."
08:03 "You will never lose me as long as you stay who you are."
08:08 At the center of the conflict is the prophecy that Paul is destined to be the Chosen One.
08:13 While Paul initially rejects this idea, he eventually comes to embrace it.
08:17 In a change from the book, Chani speaks out against these long-held religious beliefs.
08:22 "This prophecy is how they enslave us!"
08:24 With both headed down different paths,
08:27 Paul is given more incentive to marry Princess Irulan.
08:30 Unlike the book where Chani becomes Paul's concubine,
08:33 Dune Part 2 ends with Chani striking out independently.
08:36 Number 3.
08:38 No Ledo II.
08:40 "It's been a while since you've had one of those nightmares. Tell me, what was it about?"
08:45 "It's only fragments."
08:49 In Herbert's novel, Paul has a son with Chani, naming him after his late father.
08:53 When the Fremen are attacked only a couple of years later,
08:55 Ledo II is among the casualties.
08:58 We can see why Dune Part 2 left out Ledo II for a few reasons.
09:01 To begin, the film is already nearly three hours long.
09:05 The pacing likely would have suffered if the film introduced Paul's firstborn
09:08 only to quickly take him out of the picture.
09:11 "I want you to take Ledo and return to the Southern siege. I want you safe."
09:17 Secondly, reading about Ledo II's death is one thing,
09:20 but seeing it depicted on screen may have been more than some audiences could handle.
09:25 Finally, Dune Messiah sees Paul and Chani have another son,
09:28 who's also confusedly named Ledo II.
09:31 So, this spares us from any repetitive plot points.
09:35 "It's up to you now, my son. The Golden Path is dangerous, son."
09:42 Number 2. Alia Atreides - Saved for Another Sequel
09:47 Annie Taylor-Joy makes a surprise cameo in Dune Part 2 as Paul's sister Alia via a vision.
09:52 Other than this, we don't see Alia outside of her mother's womb.
09:56 Jessica spends the whole movie pregnant with no major time jump,
10:00 although it's strongly hinted that Alia will play a vital role in future sequels.
10:04 Alia is born in Herbert's first book, leading to some of the most, let's say, colorful moments.
10:09 "Poor Emperor. I'm afraid my brother won't be very pleased with you."
10:16 "Silence! Kill this child, she's an abomination. Kill her."
10:20 "Get out of my mind!"
10:24 Due to the water of life, Alia comes into the world a full reverend mother.
10:29 What's more, she's essentially an adult in the body of a child,
10:33 allowing her to take out the Baron at age two.
10:36 "Come to me, Baron."
10:38 While the Baron meets his end in the film, Alia isn't the one who does him in.
10:48 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
10:53 Paul's first interaction with a sandworm. The film puts him in more jeopardy.
10:57 [Dramatic music]
11:07 Dr. Yue's betrayal. The book hints at a traitor,
11:11 although the movie treats it as a surprise.
11:13 "I had no choice. The Harkonnens have my wife, Mwana. They take her apart like a doll."
11:22 The Sardaukar's attire while attacking House Atreides.
11:24 They disguise themselves as Harkonnen in the book, but not the movie.
11:28 Gurney Halleck versus Glassu Rabban.
11:36 While not in the book, we could use a rematch between Thanos and Drax.
11:40 A more action-packed climax.
11:45 Only a few pages in the book, but Villeneuve takes advantage of the visual medium.
11:50 "May thy knife chip and shatter."
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12:08 Number 1. Paul Atreides - Messiah or Antihero?
12:14 "It's coming. I see a holy war spreading across the universe like unquenchable fire.
12:20 A warrior religion that waves the Atreides banner in my father's name.
12:24 Fanatical legions worshipping at the shrine of my father's skull. A war in my name!"
12:32 Those who've read the Dune novels know that Paul Atreides isn't an idealistic everyman.
12:37 He's an antihero who has many qualities we associate with great leaders,
12:41 but he also exemplifies the issues that come with proclaiming someone a messiah.
12:46 "The prophet. Why is that a bad thing? Use it."
12:50 "Because all my visions lead to horror.
12:52 Because you lose control. Because I gain it."
12:58 That was always Frank Herbert's intention, although numerous readers didn't seem to
13:03 understand this when the first book came out. To set the record straight, Herbert leaned more
13:07 into Paul's flawed nature with Dune Messiah. Villeneuve doesn't want to wait for the third
13:11 film to bring out Paul's dark side, establishing early on that despite being the protagonist,
13:16 he's not always heroic. If anything, Paul demonstrates why we should, quote,
13:20 "beware of heroes," which Herbert felt was, quote, "the bottom line of the Dune trilogy."
13:26 "It's not a prophecy. It's a story."
13:28 Were these changes for the better or worse? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
13:33 "Now do what must be done."
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13:46 [outro music]