Denis Villeneuve says Dune is ‘sadly’ more relevant than ever

One of the most anticipated movies of the year is almost here and its director says it’s “sadly more relevant than ever”.

Denis Villeneuve says the story of Dune is more relevant today than when Frank Herbert wrote the book.

Anticipated sci-fi epic Dune may be based on Frank Herbert’s classic novel from 1965, but “sadly, it’s far more relevant today” according to director Denis Villeneuve.

Villeneuve was speaking about the pressing themes in his film, including environmental degradation and political intrigue, at a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, where his long-gestating movie premiered to favourable reviews.

The film will be released around the world in mid-October but has been pushed back to December 2 in Australia because its two most populous cities are locked down.

“Frank Herbert wrote Dune in the sixties, and back then he was doing a portrait of the 20th century, but it became more and more a prediction of what happen in the 21st,” Villeneuve said.

“Sadly, the book is far more relevant today – the danger of the plan to cross religion and politics, the danger of messianic figures, the impact of colonialism, the problem with the environment.

“As this book stayed with me through the years, it just felt more and more relevant. I wish it was not the case. The movie will speak to the world right now more than it would’ve 40 years ago.”

Denis Villeneuve and Timothee Chalamet at the Venice Film Festival. Picture: Miguel Medina/AFP

Starring Timothee Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson, Dune is the story of Paul Atreides, the heir to a dukedom, whose family is posted to a desert planet named Arrakis.

Arrakis has the universe’s only source of a life-enhancing spice, and the story largely deals with the power plays and betrayals of warring factions in trying to control the spice. Meanwhile, there is a prophecy of a messiah that may or may not refer to Paul.

The scarcity of Arrakis’ water is a key point in the story, and Villeneuve links this to the current debate over climate change.

“Future generations will judge us,” he said. “It’s time to get angry right now, it’s time to push and make changes. I still have hope but it’s time get into action.”

Canadian also Villeneuve struck out at his home country’s election campaign for not prioritising the environment as a pivotal issue.

“I don’t want to be moralistic,” he added. “But it’s about survival and that’s what this book is about, surviving.”

Dune will be released in cinemas in Australia on December 2.

Dune has had a patchy journey to the big screen. It was originally scheduled to be released last year but the pandemic laid waste to its plans when it was delayed an entire year.

The delay also meant that Dune will now be released in the US simultaneously at the cinemas and on streaming platform HBO Max, which is not available in Australia where it will be a cinema-only release.

The decision by the studio to put it on streaming at the same time riled up Villeneuve, who at the time of the announcement wrote an op-ed in Variety in which he argued the hybrid release model showed “absolutely no love for the cinema, nor for the audience”.

He was more diplomatic at Venice.

“These are difficult times, and we all agree safety first but if the audience feels comfortable and there’s a safe environment, I encourage them to see it on the big screen,” he said. “Because it has been dreamt, designed, made and shot [for the cinema screen].

“When you watch this movie on the big screen, it’s a physical experience. We tried to design a movie that will be as immersive as possible. And, for me, the big screen is part of that language.”

Dune will be in cinemas in Australia on December 2

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