Summary
One key death inDune: Part Twoacknowledges the original Paul Atreides actor in a celebrated David Lynch movie. Before Denis Villeneuve brought his vision of the acclaimed Frank Herbert novel to the big screen,renowned director David Lynch became the first to try adapting the novelinto a feature film. Kyle MacLaughlin, who starred in many of Lynch’s classic works such asTwin Peaksand was recently in Amazon’sFallout, played the original onscreen version of Paul Atreides.
Dune: Part Twohas become the highest-grossing movieof the year through the first half of 2024, and is exclusively available to stream on Max. The film has grossed roughly $711 million worldwide, which far surpassed the $407 million gross ofDune(2021). The1984 adaptation ofDunedirected by Lynchwas made for $45 million but only brought in about $30 million at the worldwide box office. Even thoughthe originalDunefailed to turn a profitat the box office, Villenueve’sDune: Part Twostill appears to acknowledge the film in one major way.
Baron Harkonnen’s Dune 2 Death References David Lynch & Kyle MacLachlan’s Blue Velvet Movie
The baron’s ear full of ants emulates the severed ear in Blue Velvet
The severed ear crawling with ants at the beginning ofBlue Velvetkicks off the entire story, while the death of Baron Harkonnen inDune: Part Twodemonstrates a groundbreaking and revolutionary shift of power.
InBlue Velvet(1986), MacLachlan’s character finds a severed ear crawling with ants, which is emulated inDune: Part Two. Soon after Paul kills the Baron, who is shockingly revealed to be his grandfather,the camera zooms in on Baron Harkonnen’s dead body to show his ear crawling with ants. This is a clear homage to a very similar iconic scene at the beginning of David Lynch’s classic psychological thrillerBlue Velvet, in which MacLachlan starred as Jeffrey Beaumont.
The severed ear crawling with ants at the beginning ofBlue Velvetkicks off the entire story, while the death of Baron Harkonnen inDune: Part Twodemonstrates a groundbreaking and revolutionary shift of power. Both symbolize a massive change for the protagonists, as Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides ascends to the rank of Emperor of his own volition following the Baron’s death.MacLaughlin was the original onscreen Paul in Lynch’s 1984 adaptation, which received much more negative criticism than Denis Villeneuve’s modernDunefilms.
Dune Shouldn’t Have A Part 3 – But A Sequel Still Needs To Happen
The third installment in the Dune trilogy is needed to tie off important arcs and give viewers a satisfying ending, but the title is misleading.
Dune 2’s David Lynch Nod Is A Great Way To Pay Tribute To The Original 1984 Dune Movie
Villeneuve was inspired by Lynch’s film to make a more complete adaption
While the 1984Dunemovie isn’t remembered too fondly, Villeneuve still finds ways to honor Lynch and MacLachlan with his new adaptations. Villeneuve spoke on Lynch’s adaptation withNPR: “David Lynch has a very strong identity as a filmmaker, of course, and it bled into the — it’s a fantastic interpretation of the book. But there were some choices that were made that was very far away from my sensibility. Because I didn’t feel that he captured some of the essence of, specifically, the Fremen culture — I felt that there was some things that were missing.” While it’s evident that Villenueve’sDuneadaptations are bonafide successes, the original film provided a landscape for what worked well and what could be left behind.
Rebecca Ferguson Teases Lady Jessica’s Spiritual Journey In Dune 2
Dune: Part 2’s Rebecca Ferguson talks collaborating with Denis Villeneuve, and teases how that pregnancy storyline plays out.
Dune: Part Two
Cast
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family’s devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe’s future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
