The impact of Frank Herbert’s Dune upon its release, which reshaped the sci-fi landscape, can’t be overstated. While it would take another two decades before the novel saw its own big-screen adaptation, directed by David Lynch, it did contribute to making George Lucas’ Star Wars iconic.
While Star Wars is an amalgamation of many works, including Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai and Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz, it’s the influence of Dune that stands out the most. But despite the similarities, Lynch was less than thrilled when asked to direct Return of the Jedi.
David Lynch Had No Interest in Helming Return of the Jedi
Before helming the first Dune adaptation in 1984, which ended up becoming one of the biggest mishaps in David Lynch‘s career, the director was initially offered to take the wheel of Star Wars. Following the departure of Irvin Kershner, who directed The Empire Strikes Back, George Lucas briefly considered the likes of Steven Spielberg, David Cronenberg, and Lynch for the job.
Even though Lynch wasn’t exactly a sci-fi buff, he found Herbert’s Dune different, as it had “believable characterizations and depth”. While Star Wars incorporated a lot of Dune’s traits, including a nearly inhabitable desert planet, Sandcrawlers, and the main protagonists being descendants of villains, he had zero interest in it.
But despite having no intentions of taking the director’s seat for Return of the Jedi, the Eraserheaed director did admire George Lucas. He said:
I was asked by George to come up and see him and talk to him about directing what would be the third Star Wars. And I had next door to zero interest. But I always admired George. George is a guy who does what he loves. And I do what I love. The difference is, what George loves makes hundreds of billions of dollars. So I thought I should go up and at least visit with him. And it was incredible
Unfortunately, while Lucas’ ROTJ concluded the original trilogy on a high note, the failure of Lynch’s Dune ensured the IP was left untouched for the big screen until Denis Villeneuve arrived.
David Lynch Expected Studio Interference With His Dune
While stepping out of his comfort zone to helm a big-budget sci-fi flick initially intrigued the Twin Peaks creator, he soon realized it wasn’t the right call. Moreover, the filmmaker didn’t even have the last say on the film’s final cut, as Universal proceeded to cut down his initial three-hour cut. When asked if the movie would’ve been different had the studio upheld his original cut, the Twin Peaks creator said, he was aware of signing away the final cut when he initially signed the contract.
I don’t even like talking about Dune really, but I’ve said before I knew when I was signing the contract that I was signing away final cut and from that moment I felt like, looking back, I started selling out
Although the director entertained the idea of a director’s cut for his Dune, following Lynch’s emphysema revelation, it seems a distant thought as of now.
Return of the Jedi is available to stream on Disney Plus.
Dune (1984) is available to rent on Apple TV.
