Zack Snyder’s latest project, Rebel Moon- Part One: A Child of Fire, which he is planning to transform into a full-fledged franchise, was released in the U.S. for a limited theatrical run on 15th December. Whereas, it premiered on Netflix on Thursday reaching a greater audience worldwide. With a pre-planned sequel already scheduled for April 2024, the first installment has stirred up Star Wars fandom!
Viewers noted a greater resemblance to the Star Wars franchise, with the many robotic characters, bounty hunters, and space-themed setting, led by Kora, who seems a blend of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia. While fans anticipate Rebel Moon’s potential to overthrow Star Wars, there is one other franchise that can hold Star Wars’ popularity at stake.
Oscar Issac-led movie that could best Star Wars
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, 2021’s Dune was spotlighted as a true work of art and innovation. Starring notable stars like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, and Star Wars veteran, Oscar Isaac, Dune won six Oscars out of the ten nominations it received at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, per IMDb. Based on Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, the second installment, Dune: Part Two is set to hit theatres in 2024.
Speaking of the link between Dune and the Star Wars franchise, George Lucas was quite inspired by Herbert’s novel series. Therefore, after the first novel was published in 1965, it is likely that Lucas incorporated many things from the book. Both the movies, Star Wars and Dune showcase deserted themes, deep-rooted deception, and a messiah out to protect the universe.
In Dune, Chalamet’s Paul Atreides resembles Luke Skywalker, as both get future visions and are stranded in a desert, awaiting heroic escapades. Besides that, much like the war of Skywalkers and the Sith, Dune displayed the battle of House Atreides and the Harkonnes. Star Wars was greatly influenced by Herbert’s Dune, and thus, has stirred up Star Wars fans to look forward to Dune turning into a franchise. Moreover, the inclusion of Oscar Isaac simply confirms that Dune might be the next big sci-fi series.
Which came first: Dune or Star Wars?
While 2021’s Dune has seemed to transpire from the essence of Star Wars, the latter franchise was influenced by the book Dune was adapted from. The franchises are more like siblings, mothered by Frank Herbert’s Dune series. Over a decade after Herbert released his first novel, George Lucas established the Star Wars franchise with 1977’s Episode IV: A New Hope.
Herbert penned five additional novels in the Dune series until 1986, after which his son, Brian Herbert took over and authored two more novels. Speaking to Empire Magazine, Dune director Villeneuve said,
“It was a very long process to find this identity in a world with the giant elephant of Star Wars in the room. George Lucas was inspired by Dune when he created Star Wars. Then as we were making a movie about Dune, we had to negotiate the influence of Star Wars. It’s full circle.”
Despite the similarities, Dune has the potential to maintain its individuality as a franchise. As a result, the multiple accolades it bagged last year. Dune’s massive popularity has raised the bar for sci-fi franchises and has the possibility of overpowering the Star Wars universe if the Dune sequel follows suit.
