# The new "Dune" adaptation **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [April 14, 2020, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788 "2020-04-14T18:15:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/41 "2020-05-02T19:57:56Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > …Two key Imperial roles still aren’t cast, I guess. Any suggestions? For the Emperor, I’d say: > > Ian McKellen > Patrick Stewart > Charles Dance > Michael Fassbender > Michael Gambon > > And for Princess Irulan, maybe: > > Alicia Vikander > Margaret Qualley > Rachel Brosnahan > Naomi Scott > Saoirse Ronan Thanks, **SmartAleq**. Any other thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/42 "2020-05-02T22:19:26Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Hmm. Kieran Culkin (he’s 37 but looks much younger) is really good as a pampered corporate princeling in the HBO series _Succession_, and I think he could make a really good Feyd. I dunno - Feyd-Rautha may be a spoiled aristocrat, but he’s also a stone-cold killing machine. Maybe Sam Claflin? As for the Emperor, I have a slightly out of left field suggestion: Jeffery Wright. He’s a terrific actor, and he can convey the right mixture of intelligence, sadness and gravitas. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/43 "2020-05-03T00:29:03Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Who would you all prefer instead? I don’t have strong opinions about it, and I’m way out of touch concerning who’s hot and trendy in the 19-27 year old male actor cohort. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Hmm. Kieran Culkin (he’s 37 but looks much younger) is really good as a pampered corporate princeling in the HBO series _Succession_, and I think he could make a really good Feyd. It’s a while since I read the book, but I seem to recall that both Paul and Feyd are about 15 years old at the start. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/44 "2020-05-03T01:18:23Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I dunno - Feyd-Rautha may be a spoiled aristocrat, but he’s also a stone-cold killing machine. Makes me think that _Rob Roy_-era Tim Roth would have been perfect. Sadly that era is long past. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/45 "2020-05-03T02:27:53Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > It’s a while since I read the book, but I seem to recall that both Paul and Feyd are about 15 years old at the start. Yeah, but there’s zero chance they’re going to sexualize 15-18 year olds the way Herbert did in the book. Especially the bits about Feyd, the slave girls on Giedi Prime, a merchant trying to lure Paul with sex like Jessica notes at their grand dinner, (the one where Leto stops the water slops sales to beggars tradition, instead just giving beggars modest amounts of what they need), etc… So, it’s going to need to be a young, wiry 18-24 year old for both of them. Dave Bautista as Beast Rabban is an awesome idea by the way. The Padishah Emperor is ball park 60 or so around the time of the Fremen’s victory over the Imperial forces. Younger than I thought. But anyway, so is Hugo Weaving. Not quite Jose Ferrer, but he’d bring his own gravitas to the role. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/46 "2020-05-03T02:34:31Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I dunno - Feyd-Rautha may be a spoiled aristocrat, but he’s also a stone-cold killing machine… > > …As for the Emperor, I have a slightly out of left field suggestion: Jeffery Wright. He’s a terrific actor, and he can convey the right mixture of intelligence, sadness and gravitas. Totally agree with your characterization of Feyd. The actor has to convey that he’s fairly bright, but insanely skilled and quick in single combat. I like the idea of going outside white actors for many/most of these roles. They have Zensunni sayings: why not a blend of races/ethnicities too? How about Edward Olmos as the Emperor? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/47 "2020-05-03T04:36:23Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > …How about Edward Olmos as the Emperor? That would be cool. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/48 "2020-05-03T22:40:17Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Yeah, but there’s zero chance they’re going to sexualize 15-18 year olds the way Herbert did in the book. Especially the bits about Feyd, the slave girls on Giedi Prime, a merchant trying to lure Paul with sex like Jessica notes at their grand dinner, (the one where Leto stops the water slops sales to beggars tradition, instead just giving beggars modest amounts of what they need), etc… > > So, it’s going to need to be a young, wiry 18-24 year old for both of them. That all makes sense to me. I do recall thinking that Herbert was getting into some rather questionable territory with the various activities of those young teens. (Good casting suggestions, too.) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/49 "2020-05-04T18:00:08Z")
It does look like an amazing cast. And I still enjoyed watching the previous adaptions of Dune, even though they aren’t very “good”. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > The director has said he doesn’t want the Baron to be a caricature. Dunno how that plays out. > > Two key Imperial roles still aren’t cast, I guess. Any suggestions? For the Emperor, I’d say: > > Ian McKellen > Patrick Stewart > Charles Dance > Michael Fassbender > Michael Gambon > > And for Princess Irulan, maybe: > > Alicia Vikander > Margaret Qualley > Rachel Brosnahan > Naomi Scott > Saoirse Ronan Bit of a promotion for Patrick Stewart to go from Gurney Halleck to Emperor. Charles Dance would be a good choice IMHO. I can see Alicia or Saoirse as Princess Irulan. Maybe Blake Lively or Margot Robbie. Irulan doesn’t really have to do much besides “look like a princess”. Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen will always be Sting to me. But I could see someone like Robert Pattinson or Harry Styles in that role. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/50 "2020-05-04T18:46:12Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > …Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen will always be Sting to me. But I could see someone like …Harry Styles in that role. Yes, perhaps it should be another rocker with some acting ability. That’d be a nice touch. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/51 "2020-05-04T18:50:35Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > It does look like an amazing cast. And I still enjoyed watching the previous adaptions of Dune, even though they aren’t very “good”. Yeeaaahh…I said upthread that I had enjoyed the SciFi series. Well, my wife mentioned the Dune movie coming out, and when I mentioned the miniseries she was interested in watching. Well, let’s just say that we didn’t make it far in. The production value left a LOT to be desired. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/52 "2020-05-04T19:22:17Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Yes, perhaps it should be another rocker with some acting ability. That’d be a nice touch. Bieber talks about all the MMA he trains for. Why not give it to him? I’d fall out of my chair laughing, but it’d be easy to exceed my expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/53 "2020-05-09T21:02:26Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I do not think the Fremen are anywhere near the good guys the book seems to cast them as I never thought they were, the first book ends (IIRC) with Paul ready to send them into space to crush the other great houses, it left young teenage me a little uneasy, which I think was Herbert’s goal. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/54 "2020-05-10T02:07:01Z")
Indeed. “My name is a killing word” was not something that Paul liked. He was horrified. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/55 "2020-05-24T05:37:11Z")
Power corrupts, and absolute power is actually pretty neat. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/56 "2020-05-26T17:35:03Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > (snip) > I can see Alicia or Saoirse as Princess Irulan. Maybe Blake Lively or Margot Robbie. Irulan doesn’t really have to do much besides “look like a princess”. > Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen will always be Sting to me. But I could see someone like Robert Pattinson or Harry Styles in that role. Which why I couldn’t see the producers casting an A-lister like Ronan or Robbie for a role where the only stage direction is “Stand around and look regal, in your one scene.” Doesn’t have to be a white actress, either - imagine Beyonce, or Letitia Wright. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/57 "2020-05-28T02:49:58Z")
I bought the book on my iPhone and have been watching clips of the Lynch film and 2003 miniseries on YouTube as well as random channels where the Dune universe is explained. The miniseries is like a high school play but it has its charms. There is an short ominous part of the score I enjoy. It’s my understanding that the sound weapon part of the weirding way was added by Lynch as he didn’t want a Kung fu film. That leaves me wondering what weapons the fremen will use in the end. I guess I’ll find out in another 900 pages. Bieber would be ok as Feyd but only as long as they go all out with the visual effects on the dagger through the head. That has cathartic potential. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/58 "2020-05-28T02:53:27Z")
It would certainly help its eventual Rotten Tomatoes rating. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/59 "2020-06-29T21:26:06Z")
I also didn’t like the aesthetics of the SciFi series. I didn’t really picture the Sardurkar wearing puffy shirts and [Pillsbury Doughboy hats](https://dune.fandom.com/wiki/Sardaukar/XD). I mean you know those guys have to be tough to dress in that shit. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788/60 "2020-06-29T21:33:34Z")
Yeah, I kind of thought the whole “personal shields” thing making guns and artillery obsolete was kind of dumb. Why does every fantasy story think we will be taking swords into space with us? Probably the reason Lynch drilled Duncan Idaho in the head with that slow-moving Sardurkar bullet. I mean seriously. They have personal deflector shields and anti-gravity and all sorts of future tech. What do you think they are going to do? Have entire armies learn fencing or build tiny anti-gravity drones that are slow enough to pass through a personal shield and blow up the shield users head? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788.md?page=4)