Ridley Scott's Lost Dune: Unveiling a 40-Year-Old Secret
This week marks four decades since David Lynch's Dune premiered, a box office flop that later cultivated a devoted cult following. Its stark contrast to Denis Villeneuve's recent adaptation has fueled renewed interest in the franchise's history. This article delves into a previously unknown chapter: Ridley Scott's abandoned Dune project.
Thanks to the discovery of a 133-page draft script by Rudy Wurlitzer (from the Coleman Luck archives at Wheaton College), details of Scott's vision, developed over seven to eight months, are finally revealed. This script, a significant departure from Frank Herbert's original screenplay, offers a unique interpretation of the story.
Scott, fresh from the success of Alien, inherited a screenplay that was both faithful to the book and cinematically unwieldy. He enlisted Wurlitzer for a complete rewrite, aiming for a two-part adaptation. The script, described by Scott as "pretty fucking good," ultimately failed to garner universal studio support, leading to its abandonment. Several factors contributed to the project's demise, including personal tragedy, location disputes, budget overruns, and the allure of other projects. However, a key reason, according to Universal executive Thom Mount, was the script's lack of enthusiastic reception.
A Reimagined Paul Atreides
Scott's Dune opens with a dream sequence depicting apocalyptic armies, foreshadowing Paul's destiny. The script is visually rich, showcasing Scott's signature stylistic density. Paul Atreides, unlike Timothée Chalamet's portrayal, is depicted as a seven-year-old, undergoing a trial by the Reverend Mother. This version emphasizes Paul's "savage innocence" and assertive nature, contrasting with Lynch's more vulnerable depiction. The script features a flash-forward showing Paul's training and eventual mastery of swordsmanship, surpassing even Duncan Idaho.
A Pivotal Twist: The Emperor's Demise
A significant departure from the source material is the introduction of the Emperor's death as the central catalyst. This event triggers the chain of events leading to the Atreides' downfall. The script depicts the Emperor's death, the gathering of the Great Houses, and the subsequent political maneuvering. The Baron Harkonnen's proposal to share Arrakis' spice production is rejected by Duke Leto, setting the stage for conflict. A memorable line, strikingly similar to one in Lynch's film, underscores the spice's importance: "Who controls Dune controls the Spice, and who controls the Spice controls the Universe."
The Navigator and Arrakis
The script features a detailed depiction of the Guild Navigator, a spice-mutated being, visualized as a humanoid figure floating in a transparent container. The Navigator's method of plotting the Heighliner's course through musical intonations adds a unique element. The arrival on Arrakis reveals a medieval-inspired aesthetic, emphasizing swords, feudal customs, and ecological concerns. Liet Kynes's introduction of Chani highlights the planet's ravaged environment and the potential for ecological restoration. The flight through the desert, culminating in a sandworm attack, showcases Scott's signature visual style.
Violence and Social Commentary
The script incorporates scenes of urban squalor and social disparity, drawing inspiration from The Battle of Algiers. A significant bar fight scene, featuring Paul and Duncan, introduces Stilgar, the Fremen leader. The depiction of Arakeen's streets as "ghettos" with homeless people and class conflict adds a layer of social commentary absent from other adaptations. The scene where the Duke and Jessica conceive Paul is explicitly depicted, creating a stark contrast to other versions.
The Deep Desert and the Fremen
Paul and Jessica's escape into the desert is intensely depicted, with a harrowing crash landing and a desperate struggle for survival. The encounter with the sandworm is a powerful moment, emphasizing Paul's courage. The script omits the incestuous relationship between Paul and Jessica, a significant deviation from previous versions. The encounter with the Fremen, the duel with Jamis, and the subsequent integration into the tribe are all vividly portrayed. The Water of Life ceremony, featuring a gender-bending shaman and a giant sandworm, showcases the script's surreal and mystical elements.
A Different Paul, a Different Dune
Scott's Dune, as envisioned by Wurlitzer, presents a darker, more violent, and politically charged narrative. Paul is less a reluctant hero and more an assertive, even ruthless, leader, willing to make sacrifices to achieve his goals. The script's emphasis on ecological concerns, political intrigue, and spiritual elements provides a unique perspective on Herbert's work. While it deviated significantly from the source material, it offered a bold, mature vision of Dune that ultimately proved too unconventional for the studio. The legacy of this lost adaptation remains a fascinating footnote in the history of Dune, highlighting the many possible interpretations of Herbert's complex and enduring masterpiece. The script's boldness and its unique approach to the source material suggest a film that, while perhaps commercially risky, would have been a visually stunning and thematically rich experience.
