Star Wars’ Desert Ties to Dune
Our beloved Star Wars? Yep, it owes a lot to the sci-fi novel Dune by Frank Herbert. This book influenced Star Wars creator, George Lucas, in massive ways. The desert scenes, futuristic rides and hero tales have Dune imprinted all over them. And guess what? David Lynch, a respected filmmaker, was in the running to direct the third Star Wars film.
Lynch’s Star Wars Pivot
After Irvin Kershner quit, we heard that Lynch was on the list to direct next. Interesting, right? Lynch wasn’t crazy about most sci-fi stuff. But he loved Dune. He felt its characters were real and the story was deep. He saw how Dune had its fingerprints on Star Wars, from sand dunes to social tension. But being the one to direct? Nope, he wasn’t interested.
Even though he let the Jedi job go, he talked up Lucas. Lynch respected Lucas for doing what he loved, something they both had in common.
Lynch’s First Attempt at Dune
So, Lynch said no to Star Wars, but he said yes to Dune. Yep, in 1984, he directed the first-ever Dune adaptation. Let’s just say things didn’t go so well. This sci-fi film is marked as one of his career lows. Universal Studios, who funded the flick, edited down his three-hour movie. They didn’t ask Lynch’s opinion on the final cut.
Lynch admits that directing Dune was a step outside his usual style. Signing away his final cut right? He thinks it led to him selling out on his artistic vision. Unfortunately, a director’s cut of Dune is unlikely now. Most of this is because of Lynch’s poor health.
Star Wars Soars, Dune Dips
Meanwhile, Lucas’ Return of the Jedi finished the original Star Wars trilogy in style. It was a crazy big hit, praised by fans and critics alike. On the flip side, Lynch’s Dune was a box office disaster. The big screen forgot about Dune until the recent reboot by Denis Villeneuve.
You can now catch Return of the Jedi on Disney Plus. Want to see how Lynch’s 1984 Dune looked like? Rent it out on Apple TV.
Ultimately, Lynch’s journey from Star Wars to Dune tells a tale of risk-taking and trying out new things. It’s a reminder to all filmmakers that bringing to life novels like Dune and Star Wars isn’t simple. It’s thrilling, but it’s filled with unforeseen twists and turns. It’s all part of the marvel that is movie-making!
For more details, visit Project Casting Blog on https://www.projectcasting.com/blog/news/how-dune-paved-the-way-for-star-wars-unveiling-david-lynchs-contributions/