Dune Movie Reshoots Set To Start Filming In August

[Nergal]

 

 

Denis Villeneuve's next sci-fi epic, Dune, sets plans for reshoots in August. Dune has easily become one of the most anticipated movies of 2020, and at this point, it might be one of the only movies in 2020. This will mark the latest adaptation of Frank Herbert's iconic 1965 novel, and following mixed receptions to the attempts that came before, expectations are high. Dune's star-studded cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista, and Josh Brolin. Villeneuve, meanwhile, is coming off his previous sci-fi film Blade Runner 2049, which was well-received by critics but disappointed at the box office.

Dune tells the story of the noble Atreides family, the leaders of the desert planet Arrakis, and the battle for Arrakis' extremely valuable resources. Son Paul Atreides (Chalamet) is expected to go on quite the journey, one that has even been compared to Michael Corleone's in The Godfather films. Villeneueve has already shared his intention to split his Dune into two films, as Herbert's world is too vast and complex for just one. This has given fans hope that Villeneuve will make the Dune they've all been waiting for.

Dune completed filming back in 2019, but Deadline reports it will complete reshoots in August. This isn't because of any issues with the previously shot footage or studio dissatisfaction; reshoots are a typical practice for major blockbusters. Isaac, who plays Duke Leto Atreides, confirmed the reports of the reshoots and teased Dune's progress by saying this:
 

 

We’re going to do some additional shooting in mid August… they’re saying in Budapest in Hungary. I saw some things cut together and it just looks amazing. Denis [Villeneuve] is a real artist and it will be exciting to see it come together. It’s kind of wild that we’re doing some additional shooting a few months before it’s supposed to come out, but that happened with Star Wars as well.

As Isaac said, the reshoots will take place in Hungary, and they are not expected to impact Dune's December release date. The only thing that could pose some difficulty for these reshoots is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has kept film productions shuttered for months now. There are several that are beginning to get back to work within the coming weeks, such as the Avatar sequels and Jurassic World: Dominion, so hopefully things should be clear enough for Dune in August. There will be extensive safety measures implemented on Dune's set.

The hope now is that Dune will get to hold onto its December release date and give some much-needed life to the 2020 box office. Of course, it's unclear as to how Dune will perform financially, but there's a chance that the lack of blockbusters for the past few months could fuel audiences' appetites for a classic sci-fi epic. For now, Dune remains on track for the end of the year, even with its planned reshoots.

Dune (2020)
Release Date: Dec 18, 2020