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: 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:

There are also some scenes in the script of Duncan arriving at Arrakis, which should have happened following the above scenes. These are:

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:

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: 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: 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: 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:

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: The script is closer to the text of the book and contains some more lines taken from the book. These are:

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: In the script the scene is a little longer and also contains the following lines from the book:

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:

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