Denis Villeneuve directed Dune, a 2021 American epic science fiction film with a screenplay by Jon Spaihts, Villeneuve, and Eric Roth. It’s the first instalment in a proposed two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name, covering about the first half of the book.
Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgrd, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem are among the film’s ensemble cast members.
Dune is set in the far future, when humanity has progressed in many scientific fields while also mutating in many spiritual ones. On September 3, 2021, Dune opened at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. On October 22, Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute it in the United States, with a 31-day simultaneous availability on the HBO Max streaming service.
In the movie, Duke Leto Atreides accepts the stewardship of Arrakis. It is a dangerous desert planet that is the only source of the universe’s most valuable substance, “melange,” also known as “spice,” a drug that extends human life, gives superhuman levels of thought, and ensures faster-than-light travel.
Knowing that the chance is a set-up by his opponents, Leto travels to Arrakis with his Bene Gesserit concubine Lady Jessica, infant son and heir Paul, and loyal advisors. Leto assumes command of the spice mining operation, which became dangerous due to the presence of huge sandworms. Paul and Jessica are led to the Fremen, Arrakis natives who live in the deep desert, by a bitter treachery and we follow them on this journey.
Dune filming locations
Principal photography began on March 18, 2019, at Budapest’s Origo Film Studios and continued in Jordan’s Wadi Rum. One of the film’s locations, the planet Caladan, was shot in Norway’s Stadlandet. Let us explore these filming locations in detail.
Budapest, Hungary
Dune was shot at Budapest’s Origo Film Studios by the filmmaker, who returned to Hungary for the second time.
Most tourists will have little trouble travelling to Budapest because it is a global destination and a significant international metropolis. Furthermore, thanks to the new Covid-19 travel exemptions for film workers and a 30% tax rebate, film productions have recently started contemplating filming in Hungary.
Wadi Rum, Jordan
Villeneuve returned to Jordan to shoot for Dune. Many major science fiction films, such as The Martian and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, were shot there, but Dune was a no-brainer.
The well-known Valley of the Moon in Jordan, intended as the backdrop for the dry parts in planet Arrakis (also known as Dune), is a magnificent location that appears to be exactly what Herbert had in mind when conceiving the world in his novel.
Although many other well-known productions, like as Lawrence of Arabia, have taken place there, Dune may be the best suit for the region’s aesthetic tastes.
Stadlandet, Norway
For the first section of Dune, which is situated on the planet Caladan, Villeneuve selected this peninsular region in Norway. Caladan was described by Herbert as an ocean universe, which is an apt description for the eerily gorgeous beaches of Stadlandet, the hidden gem.
Stadlandet is surrounded by Norway’s spectacular fjords and is located between the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea. Stadlandet is a mountain plateau with the Tarvaldsegga peak at its highest point. This implies that, in addition to surfing, visitors can also do mountain trekking.
Abu Dhabi, UAE
The Empty Quarter in Saudi Arabia, a huge desert region in the Arabian Peninsula’s southern section, was another location utilised for filming sequences set on planet Arrakis. The colour of the sand in this area lends to a fully golden cinematic landscape.
Catch this one as it hits theatres on the 22nd of October in the USA.