Two Dune Movies Streaming On HBO Max Aren’t Directed By Denis Villeneuve
In 2021, acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve took on what was one of the hardest tasks in all of Hollywood — adapting Frank Herbert’s first Dune novel. Villeneuve’s first Dune film released in 2020, but, crucially, adapted only half of its source material.
Despite releasing at a time in which many movie theaters were still shuttered or had ongoing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dune still managed to carve its place in modern pop culture. Timothée Chalamet’s performance as Paul Atreides, for example, was praised by fans and critics alike.
Flash forward to 2026, and the remainder of the year looks set to be a huge time for the Dune franchise. The final installment of the trilogy, titled Dune: Part Three, is set to release in theaters next month (on the same day as Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday). The critical acclaim and audience reception to the 2021 film and its follow-up, Dune: Part Two, has made Part Three one of the most anticipated projects of the entire year.
For fans who are eagerly awaiting the release of Dune: Part Three, there are many titles on streaming that can help to hold them over until the film finally releases next month. There are, of course, the two Denis Villeneuve-directed Dune films available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S., but two new Dune titles have just hit the streamer just in time for the release of Part Three.
David Lynch’s 1984 Dune Is Now Streaming On HBO Max
<<img src="https://static0.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/paul-named-kwisatz-haderach-in-dune-1984.jpg?q=70&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1" />
</figure>
One of these titles is David Lynch’s highly controversial Dune film from 1984. Lynch, who passed away last year, has gone down as one of the best filmmakers of all time; yet, his Dune film remains one of his less appreciated works, even in the Dune renaissance era that Hollywood is in right now.
Unlike Villeneuve, Lynch opted to adapt the entirety of Frank Herbert’s first Dune novel, which runs at around 500 pages in length, depending on the specific print and adaption. This meant that Lynch packed as much of the Dune lore as he could into a two-hour film, which ultimately made some feel the story was overstuffed and too complicated.
Yet, Lynch’s Dune has developed a cult following in recent years, and for good reason. The film has plenty of positive aspects to it, such as the performance of Kyle Machlachlan as Paul Atreides, as well as the many famous actors in supporting roles, such as Dean Stockwell and the late Sir Patrick Stewart.
Jodorowsky’s Dune Explores The Greatest Dune Movie Never Made
The other Dune related film that is now streaming on HBO Max is Jodorowsky’s Dune. Unlike Lynch and Villeneuve’s films, Jodorowsky’s Dune is a documentary that focuses on director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ultimately unsuccessful attempts to make a Dune film in the 1970s.
Jodorowsky’s project was incredibly ambitious, even when compared with Lynch’s and Villenueve’s works (which is quite the statement, as those two filmmakers together made three of the most ambitious sci-fi movies of all time). The director assembled an all-star team of artists to help bring the project to life, too.
On the acting side, Jodorowsky cast none other than Orson Welles to play Baron Harkonnnen. He also recruited Salvador Dalí as the Emperor, and even secured the services of iconic musician Mick Jagger to join the cast. Jodorowsky also boldly cast his own son Brontis to play Paul Atreides.
Behind the camera, the filmmaker had comic book artist Jean “Moebius” Giraud and writer Dan O’Bannon working on the project. Additionally, Pink Floyd had also agreed to compose the music for the film. Ultimately, even as the project never came to fruition, the work of Jodorowsky and the rest of the crew helped to inspire other famous blockbusters to come, such as Alien, Blade Runner, and George Lucas’ first Star Wars film.
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.