Dune 2021 film
The purpose of this page is to compare the Dune 2021 film with the two scripts and the book. The sources that are compared are:
The film is taken as the basis for the order of the scenes being discussed.
This is work in progress.
Intro
The intro starts a piece of music and the subtitle 'Dreams are messages from
the deep' followed by the WB and Legendary intros. The subtitle does not occur
in the script and the screenplay.
Introduction scene
This scene starts with scene as described in scene 1 'Dream sequence: Ext.
Arrakis - End of day' (#1) of the screenplay, and then shows the departure of
the Harkonnen as overseen by Rabban. There is a voice over with the voice of
Chani. The scene ends with 'Dune' being displayed.
The screenplay does not have the voice over. The scene is not found in the
script. The script starts with an introduction scene called 'Bene Gesserit
temple wall'. Both of these scenes are not found in the book. The scene
suggests that the harvesters operate during the night, but this seems not the
case in a later scene in the film and the book, where there is a harvester
working during the early morning. In the book there is also no focus on the
harvesters being attacked by freman.
Int. Caladan castle, Paul's bedroom - Night
This scene shows Paul in his room waking up from a dream and next shows the
planet Caladan covered with clouds and some lightning. This scene matches
scene 2A (#2) from the screenplay. It does not occur in the script. In the
book Chani calls Paul Usul instead.
Int. Caladan castle - Room overlooking valley - Morning
This scene has Paul and Jessica on the breakfast table. It matches with scene
2C (#3) from the screenplay (except for some small changes). It does not occur
in the script and in the book it also does not appear. The book does not give
any details about the training that Jessica is giving to Paul. The scene does
display some items, including a portrait of Paul's grandfather and a sculpture
of a bull killing a man, that the readers of the book must recognize.
Int. Paul's room
In this scene Paul watches a projection with some details about Arrakis. This
scene is not found in the screenplay or the script. Although the details of
the details match with what is given in the book, they are not presented in
this manner but in bits through the text.
Ext. Caladan tarmac - Day
This is scene 2D (#4) in the screenplay. It is not found in the script
Compared to the screenplay, some lines have been removed in the film. This
scene is not based on the book. The book does not give details about how the
decision of the emporer is communicated.
Int. Caladan military hangar - Morning
This scene is primary about Paul talking with Duncan after he arrives in a
plane, which does not look like an ornithopter at all. This scene is not based
on the book. In the book there is no interaction between Paul and Duncan on
Caladan. In Chapter 4 he asks where Duncan is and Gurney tells him that he is
gone to lead the second wave to Arrakis. This scene does not occur in the
script. It is based on the following scenes in the screenplay:
- 2B (#5): Fighter spacescraft
- 1A (#6): In military hangar
- 1C (#7): Dream sequence that does not occur in the film
- 1D (#8): Does not occur in the film
- 1E (#9): Arrakis from space and back to hangar.
- 1F (#10): Another part of the dream sequence and back to hangar
- 1G (#11): Kynes's laboratory corridor
In the film the scene takes place in the hangar without dream sequences. In the
screenplay there is some talk about Duncan shaving his beard, which might
refer to the deleted scene where Duncan lands on Arrakis while being clean
shaved.
Ext. Caladan's clifftops
This scene has Paul talk with Leto on the clifftops. It matches with the
scene 22 (#12) in the sceenplay, but it has a very different dialog than in
the screenplay, which is more about the empirial politics than on the personal
level, just like Chapter 6 in the book. There are some lines from that chapter
in the script (lines 43 to 45 from page 46) that do not appear in the
screenplay but do appear in the film. In the book Paul never asks his father
to travel with Duncan to Arrakis as he does in the screenplay and the film. It
is only in Chapter 12 that Leto talks with Paul about that they need 'desert
power' on Arrakis (on lines 39 to 41 from page 89).
Deleted scenes
There are some scenes in the screenplay, that do not appear in the film.
These are:
- 3A (#13): 'Int. Caladan barracks - Officers's mess - night'.
A scene of fairwell of Duncan in which he is shaved.
- 23A (#14): 'Ext. Caladan tarmac - Dawn'. Duncan leaves in stealth ship.
- 22aaB (#15): 'Int. Paul's bedroom - Same time'
- 22aaA (#16): 'Int. Paul's study - Day'
There are also some scenes in the script of Duncan arriving at Arrakis,
which should have happened following the above scenes. These are:
- 2: 'Ext. Arrakis Orbit'
- 3: 'Ext. Arrakis - Rock Ridge - Day.
- 12: 'Int. Castle Caladan - Paul's Study - Morning.
Although the first two scenes are not included in the screenplay, there are
some images and a clips that suggest that this scenes were filmed. These
scenes are not based on the book, which in Chapter 4 (line 31 of page 37)
states that he has gone to lead the second wave. This seems to suggest there
was another wave and that he did not land on his own from a stealth ship.
The third scene is about Paul meeting with Hawat. It is based on Chapter 4 of
the book starting at page 32. There are some lines which are taken from this
chapter. These are:
- Lines 32 and 33 from page 32. Followed by an remark based on lines 1 and 2
from page 33.
- Line 3 from page 33.
- Line 4 from page 33.
- Discussion about the storms of Arrakis, based on lines 33 to 39 of page 33.
- Line 47 from page 34.
- Line 24 from page 36
Int. Training room - Day
This scene is about Paul and Gurney fighting. It matches scene 14 (#17) from
the screenplay and the following scenes from the script:
- 14: 'Int. Training Room - Day'.
- 15: 'Ext. Caladan Castle - Pavilion - Day'.
A flashback removed from the screenplay
- 16: 'Int. Training room - Day'.
- 17: 'Ext. Caladan Castle - Pavilion - Day'.
A flashback removed from the screenplay. There is a picture suggesting
that this scene was filmed.
- 18: 'Int. Training room - Day'.
It is based on the second half of Chapter 4 from the book. The screenplay and
the film start with some lines that in the book are between Hawat and Paul.
The screenplay does not have the part of Gurney singing that is found in the
script and is taken from the lines 43 to 48 from page 37. The scene is based
on the following scenes in the book:
- Lines 43 and 44 from page 32.
- Line 3 from page 33.
- Line 4 from page 33.
- Lines 47 and 48 from page 36.
- Lines 27 and 28 from page 38.
- Line 40 from page 38.
- Lines 41 to 43 from page 38.
- Line 26 from page 39.
The 'eighty years' are mentioned on line 14 of page 10 (second page of Chapter
1).
Ext. Cityscape of Geidi Prime's capital
This a short scene based on scene 20 (#19) in the script and screenplay showing
the cityscape and a spaceship landing in a landing bay. (It seems that
scene 19 (#18), 'Space Giedi Prime', is not included in the film.)
Harkonnen baths
This scene is about Rabban talking with Baron Harkonnen en Pitter De Vries and
is based on scene 21B (#21) in the screenplay. (It seems that scene 21A (#20),
'Int. Harkonnen Palace - Corridor - Day' is not inlcuded in the film, or just
very short.) It also matches with scene 21 in the script. The film follows
the screenplay except for some statement at the end. Compared to the script,
the screenplay is a bit longer. This scene is not based on the book. In Chapter
2, Baron Harkonnen talks with Piter De Vries and with Feyd-Rautha, who does not
appear in this film.
Ext. Space - Caladan Orbit
This scene is based on scene 5 (#22) in the screenplay and in the script. In
the script this scene is preceded with scene 4 'Int. Castle Caladan -
Meditation Room - Night' and followed by scene 6 (continuation of scene 4),
which is found in the sceenplay, but also not in the film.
These scenes are not found in the book.
Ext. Castle Caladan - Night
This scene is based on scene 7 (#24) in the script and screenplay. In the
script it is followed by scene 8 'Int. Castle Caladan - Meditation Room'. The
film has Jessica waiting for the arrival of the shuttle.
Int. Paul's bedroom - Night
This scene is based on scene 9 (#25) in the script and the screenplay. The
scene is about Jessica waking up Paul and telling him to get dressed. In the
book Reverend Mother Mohiam arrives in the evening and together with Jessica
visits Paul who has just gone to bed but is still awake while pretending to be
asleep. In the book Jessica wakes him in the morning (at dawn) and tells him
to hurry and dress in line 33 on page 11 of Chapter 1.
Int. Castle corridor - Night
This scene is based on scene 9A (#26) in the screenplay and the first part of
scene 10 in the script. In the book the interaction with Doctor Yueh as in this
scene is not included in the book. This scene has some lines from the book:
Line 33 and lines 35 to 37 from page 11.
Int. Library - Night
This scene is about Paul being tested with the gom jabbar. The scene is scene
10 (#27) in the screenplay and the rest of scene 10 in the script. This scene
is based on text from Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 of the book. The following lines
are from Chapter 1:
- Line 37 from page 12.
- Line 48 from page 12 and line 1 from page 13.
- Line 2 from page 13.
- Line 6 to 8 from page 13.
- Line 11 and 12 from page 13.
- Line 15 from page 13.
- Line 21 from page 13.
- Line 23 from page 13.
- Line 33 from page 13.
- Lines 36 to 38 from page 13.
- Lines 12 and 13 from page 14.
- Line 41 from page 14.
- Line 42 from page 14.
- Lines 15 and 16 from page 14.
- Lines 17 and 18 from page 14.
- Lines 3 and 4 from page 15.
- Lines 46 and 47 from page 14.
- Line 12 from page 15.
- Lines 28 to 32 (Litany against fear) from page 14 (spoken by Jessica instead of Paul
in his mind.)
- Lines 30 to 34 from page 15
- Line 43 from page 15.
- Line 6 from page 16.
- Line 9 from page 16.
- Line 29 from page 16.
In the film the test seems to awaken something in Paul. There are some flashes
from future events and there is a moment where he seems to overcome the pain
and/or being able to ignore it, and look Mohiam straight in the face. This is
not described like this in the book. Although, in Chapter 3, Paul states on
line 44 of page 29 about 'a stamp of strangeness' implying that it did
something to him.
The following lines are from Chapter 3:
- Line 26 from page 29.
- Lines 36 and 37 from page 29.
- Lines 47 and 48 from page 29.
- Line 1 from page 30 where Paul answers 'Yes' is in the trailer and the
scipt, while in the screenplay and the film he says: 'Not exactly'.
- Lines 47 and 48 from page 31.
In the script and screenplay there are also some lines from Chapter 4 where
Paul recounts to Hawat some part of the conversation with the Reverend Mother.
These lines, the lines 8 to 13 on page 35, are found in the trailer starting
from 0:55, but are excluded
from the film. These lines do not appear in Chapter 3 where Paul talks with
Reverend Mother Hohiam, but on line 33 of page 31 she said something that
could be interpretted as such. It looks like Paul gives his interpretation of
what is being said, but maybe Paul did have a longer converstation with her,
because in Chapter 4 he goes on to give more details not mentioned in the
earlier chapters.
Ext. Castle Caladan - Terrace landing pad - Night
This scene is scene 11 (#28) in the screenplay and the script. It is about
Jessica talking to Reverend Mother Mohiam on her way to the shuttle and talking
with Paul after the shuttle has lift-off. It takes some lines from Chapter 3.
The following lines of this chapter are found in the film:
- Lines 39 and 40 from page 31.
- Line 22 from page 27.
- Line 23 from page 27.
- Lines 24 and 25 from page 27.
The script is closer to the text of the book and contains some more lines
taken from the book. These are:
- Line 26 from page 27.
- Lines 28 to 31 from page 27.
- Lines 32 and 33 from page 31.
Int. Great Hall - Day
This is a very short scene based on scene 22aA (#30) in the screenplay. It does
have Jessica and Leto watching. In the screenplay this is preceded by scene
11A (#29) 'Ext. Caladan Castle - Morning', another short scene, that seems to
have been deleted.
Ext. Clifftops - Sunset
This scene is based on scene 22A (#31) in the screenplay and in the script.
The script does not mention the Atreides fleet taking leave. In the script
this scene is followed by the scene 22B 'Int. Castle Caladan - Leto's bedroom
- Night' and scene 23 'Ext. Caladan landing - Day' (with no dialog) that were
deleted from the screenplay. These are followed by scene 24 (#31) 'Ext. Arrakis
- Deep Desert - Dawn' in the sceenplay and script, showing Stilgar looking up
in the sky and seeing the Guild Heighliner. These scene was filmed but deleted
from the film.
Ext. Arrakeen Landing - Day
This scene is based on scene 25 (#32) 'Ext. Arrakeen Landing - Day' in the
screenplay and the script. It is a short scene without dialog. The landing is
not described in the book. It actually happened in a number of waves, some
after the family arrived.
Int. Atreides flagship - Boarding ramp
This scene is based on scene 26 (#33) 'Int. Atreides flagship - Boarding ramp'
in the screenplay and the script. Gurney speaks to lines from a poem that
according to the book he often repeats. They are found on lines 17 and 18 from
page 79 in Chapter 11 of the book where Leto recalls Gurney often speaking
them.
Ext. Landing Field
This scene is based on scene 27 (#34) 'Ext. Landing Field' from the screenplay
and the script. The script is a little different from the screenplay in the
sense that Leto want Hawat to take Paul and Jessica while he walks in with the
troops.
Ornithopter pad
This scene is based on scene 28 (#35) 'Ornithopter pad' from the screenplay
and the script.
Ext. Landing field, beside Atreides army frigates
This short scene is based on scene 28B (#36) 'Ext. Landing field, beside
Atreides army frigates' in the screenplay. This scene does not occur in the
script.
Int. Ornithopter - Continuous
This scene is based on scene 29 (#37) 'Int. Ornithopter - Continuous' from the
screenplay and the script.
Int./Ext. ornithopter (in flight)
This scene is based on scene 30 (#38) 'Int./Ext. ornithopter (in flight)' in
the screenplay and the script. In the screenplay there is no dialog, but the
film does contain some words from Hawat found in the script. In the script
Jessica reads aloud an inscription which is taken from lines 43 and 44 on
page 82, the qoute above Chapter 12.
In the script there are a number of scenes following this scene that do not
appear in the screenplay or not in the film. These scenes are described below.
(In the film, scene 38 has been moved to the front.)
Scene 31 'Ext. Arrakeen - Main road' of the script does not appear in
screenplay and the film. In this scene Leto walks with his legions towards
the city and passes a field of crosses with some mummified bodies. This scene
is not based on the book.
Scene 32 'Ext. Arrakeen residency - Day' of the script is not included in the
screenplay and the film. The scene is about Paul, Jessica, and Hawat arriving
in front of the house. There is a short exchange between Jessica and Hawat
about the trees. In the book a similar exchange between Jessica ane Yueh can be
found on page 61 of Chapter 8. (In the film, scene 37A (below) deals with the
subject of the trees.) Paul than ask about the meaning of the word 'Mahdi' and
Jessica gives an answer that is similar to the answer that Hawat gives to Leto
in the lines 2 to 3 of page 100 in Chapter 13.
Scene 33 (#39) 'Int. Residency - Great hall - Day' of the script does appear in
the screnplay but is not included in the film. In this scene, without dialog,
Paul and Jessica enter the house.
Ext. Residency balcony - Day
This scene is based on scene 38 (#40) 'Ext. Residency balcony - Day' from the
screenplay and scene 38 'Command tower' from the script. The scene is about
Leto talking with Gurney. In the film the scene starts with the two moons of
Arrakis, which is not found in the script and screenplay. In the script, this
scene is followed by the scene 38A 'Close on: A partical of spice'.
Int. Dining hall - Day
This scene is based on scene 37 (#43) 'Int. Dining hall - Day' in the
screenplay and the script. In this scene Jessica selects Shadout Mapes as the
new housekeeper. The line-up does not happen in the book. In the book Leto
tells Jessica that Hawat has cleared Shadout Mapes and suggests that Jessica
might keep her as the housekeeper (on line 16 and 17 of page 53). The following
lines from Chapter 7 of the book are used in this scene:
- Line 48 from page 55.
- Lines 14 to 17 from page 56.
- Line 18 from page 56.
- Line 20 and 21 from page 56.
- Line 23 from page 56.
- Lines 28 and 29 from page 56.
- Line 41 from page 56.
- Line 47 from page 56.
- Line 48 from page 56.
- Line 6 from page 57.
- Line 19 to 21 from page 57.
- Line 31 and 32 from page 57.
In the script the scene is a little longer and also contains the following
lines from the book:
- Line 34 from page 57.
- Lines 36 and 37 from page 57.
- Lines 3 and 4 from page 58.
Ext. Arrakeen residency courtyard - Same moment
This scene is based on scene 37A (#44) 'Ext. Arrakeen residency courtyard -
Same moment' from the screenplay which is not contained in the script. The
scene is about Paul taking with the residency gardener about the plants. This
scene is not found in the book.
In the screenplay this scene is followed by scene 38aA (#45) 'Int. Leto's
office - Day' where Leto, Gurney and Hawat find a box with index fingers. The
scene is not included int he film, but there are some back-stage stills
suggesting that this scene was filmed. The scene is not found in the book.
Int. North wing - corridor
This scene is based on scene 34 (#42) 'Int. North wing - Corridor' from the
screenplay. This is a short scene where Paul looks at wall with a long fresco
of a sandworm. In the screenplay this scene is preceded by scene 35 (#41) 'Int.
Residency - Paul's new room - Day' that is not included in the film. In the
screenplay this scene has no dialog, but in the script it has Paul talking
Hawat explaining that the room is safe. Next he talks with Doctor Yueh who
hands him a Orange Catholic Bible. In the book this happens in Chapter 5,
while they are still on Arrakis (on line 22 of page 43).
Int. Paul's room - Day
This scene is based on scene 39 'Int. Paul's room - Day' from the script,
which is not present in the screenplay. This is the scene where Paul is
attacked by the hunter-seeker while he is watching a projection. In the book
Paul is just remembering some fact, including the list of plants (on lines
9 to 11 on page 68) that is mentioned during the projection. The text is a
little different in the script that start with some sentences about the spice.
Some lines were taken from the lines 30, 31, and 34 from page 69 of Chapter 9
of the book.
In the script this scene is followed by scene 40 'Ext. Residency - Compound -
Day' in which they search for the operator with some kind scanning device.
Although this does not occur in the screenplay and the film, an animation for
this has been created.
Int. Arrakeen residency - Command tower - Night
In this scene Hawat offers his resignation to Leto. It is based on scene 42
'Int. Arrakeen residency - Command tower - Night' from the script. It is not
included in the screenplay. It also has a short shot from scene 41 'Int.
Residency - Basement - Day' from the script, which is also not present in the
screenplay. The lines 43 to 44 from page 83 in Chapter 12 of the book have
Hawat offer his resignation. Another line repeated several times in Chapter 11.
For the first time on line 27 of page 78.
Chapter 10 of the book is about Jessica finding a hidden message under a leaf
in the garden room. Although there is no scene in the script or the screenplay,
it was filmed according to an interview.
In the script scene 42 is followed by scene 42A 'Int. Arrakeen residence -
Hawat's office - Day' with an exchange between Paul and Hawat. This scene does
not occur in the sceenplay, but there is an account of it being filmed. There
is also a still of Paul and Hawat walking. In the script Paul says that it
was due to his training that he escaped the attack. This line is based on
line 18 of page 83 in Chapter 12 of the book where Paul defends Hawat in a talk
with his father. The scene also has something about Paul being trained as a
mentat, something that has been removed from the film complete together with
almost everything else related to mentats. The second half of scene 42A in the
script is about a kind of death-match between two mentats. There is nothing
like this in the book.
In the script there is another scene, scene 42B 'Int. Arrakeen residency -
Meditation room - Day' about Jessica and Paul exersizing with the voice. This
scene is not found in the screenplay and not in the film. In the book there is
no text dealing about Paul's training as portraited in this scene.
Int. Harkonnen Throne Room - Night
This scene is based on scene 42AD (#44) 'Int Harkonnen Throne Room - Night'
from the screenplay. (In the screenplay, there is a short scene, the scene
42AC (#43) 'Ext. Geidi Prime - Establishing'.) In this scene there is a short
meeting between Reverend Mother Mohiam and the Baron about the Emperor
supporting the Harkonnen with Sardaukar. This is not based on the book. In the
book there is a chapter were Lady Fenring talks with the Baron about Arrakis,
but this happens much later in the book, after the Paul has joined the Fremen.
Int. Arrakeen residency - War room - morning
This scene is based on scene 44 in the script and screenplay (#45). In this
scene Leto meets with his officers. Paul is also present. The scene in the
screenplay is a bit longer than the script. The film follows the screenplay
with some minor adjustments. The scene contains some lines from Chapter 12. In
the book Idaho is present, but in the film he still has to return from the
Fremen. The scene contains the following lines from Chapter 12:
- Line 48 from page 85 and line 1 from page 86.
- Lines 6 and 7 from page 86.
- Lines 11 and 12 from page 86.
Home