Google-Friendly Dune Script Unearthed: Ridley Scott Reveals Concerns

Ridley Scott's Lost Dune: A 40-Year-Old Secret Revealed

This week marks forty years since David Lynch's Dune premiered. Initially a box office flop, it's since cultivated a devoted cult following. This stands in stark contrast to Denis Villeneuve's recent big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic novel. Ridley Scott's involvement, before Lynch took the reins, remains largely unknown—until now.

A 133-page draft of Scott's abandoned Dune script, penned by Rudy Wurlitzer in October 1980, has surfaced. Discovered in the Coleman Luck archives at Wheaton College by T.D. Nguyen, this document offers unprecedented insight into Scott's vision.

Frank Herbert's initial two-part screenplay, while faithful, proved cinematically unwieldy. Scott, after Alien's success, selected a handful of scenes from Herbert's script. He then commissioned Wurlitzer (known for Two-Lane Blacktop and Walker) to craft a complete rewrite. Like Herbert's and Villeneuve's versions, it was conceived as a two-part epic.

Wurlitzer described the project as incredibly challenging, stating that outlining the story consumed more time than writing the final script. He aimed to capture the book's essence while infusing it with a unique sensibility. Scott himself later confirmed the script's quality.

Several factors contributed to the project's demise: the death of Scott's brother, his reluctance to film in Mexico (De Laurentiis's demand), a ballooning budget exceeding $50 million, and the allure of Filmways' Blade Runner project. However, Universal executive Thom Mount highlighted a crucial issue: the script lacked universal acclaim.

Was Wurlitzer's adaptation a cinematic failure, or simply too dark, violent, and politically charged for a mainstream release? A detailed analysis of the script allows for a personal judgment. While Wurlitzer and Scott declined to comment, the script itself speaks volumes.

A Darker Paul Atreides

The script opens with a dream sequence depicting apocalyptic armies traversing the universe, foreshadowing Paul's destiny. Scott's signature visual density is evident in descriptions like "birds and insects become a whirling hysteria of motion." This power translates effectively to the page.

The script portrays Paul not as Timothée Chalamet's portrayal, but as a seven-year-old boy undergoing a Bene Gesserit test. This version emphasizes Paul's "savage innocence" and assertive nature, contrasting with Lynch's depiction. A flash-forward showcases his transformation into a master swordsman by age 21, surpassing even Duncan Idaho.

The Emperor's Demise

The script introduces a pivotal twist: the Emperor's death, a catalyst absent from the novel. This event triggers the chain of events leading to the Atreides' downfall. The Emperor's death is revealed in a mystical scene within the Emperor's Inner Kingdom, a visually stunning setting. The Baron Harkonnen's offer to share Arrakis' spice production, and his famous line ("He who controls the spice controls the universe"), also appear, sparking debate about its origin in the Lynch adaptation.

The Guild Navigator

The script depicts the Guild Navigator, a spice-addicted being, as an elongated, humanoid figure floating in a transparent container. This visualization, pre-dating its appearance in Dune Messiah, adds a unique visual element.

A Medieval Arrakis

The script presents Arrakis with a medieval aesthetic, emphasizing swords, feudal customs, and class disparity. The ecological impact of spice harvesting is highlighted, mirroring Scott's simultaneous development of a medieval-fantasy film. The script also features a brutal bar fight in Arakeen's slums, showcasing Paul's early ruthlessness.

The Fremen Encounter

The script details a more intense desert escape for Paul and Jessica, culminating in a crash landing and a perilous journey to find the Fremen. The encounter with Stilgar and the duel with Jamis are depicted with graphic violence, echoing elements of Lynch's film but with significant differences. The script notably omits the Paul-Jessica incest subplot, a point of contention with Herbert and De Laurentiis.

The Water of Life Ceremony

The script concludes with a Water of Life ceremony, featuring a gender-bending shaman and a giant sandworm. Jessica becomes the new Reverend Mother, and Paul, accepted by the Fremen, is poised to fulfill his destiny. The script ends before the iconic sandworm ride, a key element Herbert wanted included.

A Revisionist Vision

Wurlitzer's script emphasizes the ecological, political, and spiritual aspects of Dune, presenting Paul as a potentially ruthless leader. This contrasts with Lynch's focus on the spiritual and Villeneuve's emphasis on the dangers of charismatic leaders. The script's mature themes and violent content likely contributed to its rejection.

The script's legacy includes H.R. Giger's distinctive sandworm design and the involvement of Vittorio Storaro as the intended cinematographer. While it never made it to the screen, it offers a fascinating glimpse into a radically different interpretation of Herbert's masterpiece, one that prioritized ecological concerns and political intrigue alongside the spiritual elements. The script's themes remain relevant today, highlighting the enduring power of Herbert's vision.