Denis Villeneuve’s Dune draws inspiration from Lord of the Rings, highlighting the importance of staying close to the original books.

Lord of the Rings still remains a timeless classic even after several decades since its release. The movie series, based on the works of British author J.R.R. Tolkien, not only created a highly bankable franchise but also influenced numerous other projects. Now, a new addition to this legacy is director Denis Villeneuve’s Dune.

Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune: Part Two || Credits: Warner Bros Pictures

Villeneuve has already made a significant impact with his adaptation of Frank Herbert’s books. Further, he recently discussed how The Lord of the Rings influenced his approach to Dune.

Lord of the Rings’ huge impact on Dune director Denis Villeneuve

It’s common in the film and TV industry for movies and shows to be based on well-known and popular books. From Game of Thrones to Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune movies, all of these have been perfectly adapted from the works of authors like George R.R. Martin and Frank Herbert. But for Villeneuve, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings served as a blueprint for what he wanted to achieve as a filmmaker in Dune.

Denis Villeneuve || Credits: Gage Skidmore || CCA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

In an interview with Vanity Fair, he explained how Peter Jackson‘s original trilogy influenced him to stay close to Frank Herbert’s Dune books. Villeneuve added that after reading the first book, he was adamant about remaining faithful to the aesthetics and essence he had in mind.

Furthermore, he also praised Jackson’s decision to do full justice to Tolkien’s vision by fully incorporating his books into the adaptation. By doing this, Villeneuve’s ultimate goal is to inspire more and more people to read the original source material.

Remaining close to the source material has always been well appreciated by fans. In the same interview, he was also asked about how he brought the giant sandworms to life. Denis Villeneuve added that the idea was quite clear in his mind, given that he had already read Herbert’s books a long time ago.

He was determined to present the sandworms as dangerous, edgy, and exciting. While talking about Dune, the filmmaker also gave an update on the adaptation of Dune: Messiah.

Denis Villeneuve Has a Promising Update on Dune: Messiah

Dune: Awakening’s Sandworms are just the start. Image Credits: Funcom.

After Dune and its sequel Dune: Part Two, fans have been eagerly waiting for any update on the third installment. To their delight, in an interview, Denis Villeneuve confirmed that he’s currently in the early stages of writing the script.

He added, “It’s in the works. It’s why I’m not staying here (Toronto International Film Festival) that long,” signaling that the Dune universe is set to be further explored.

In the same Vanity Fair interview mentioned above, he also touched upon Dune: Messiah, explaining that he doesn’t want it to be part of a trilogy. He mentioned that after Dune: Messiah, he would be more interested in exploring other projects. Thus, marking the end of his involvement in the Dune franchise.

However, Villeneuve is open to someone else taking over the task of further expanding the Arrakis universe.