Ridley Scott's Lost Dune: Unveiling a 40-Year-Old Secret
This week marks four decades since David Lynch's Dune premiered, a box office flop that has since cultivated a devoted cult following. This stands in stark contrast to Denis Villeneuve's recent big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert's iconic novel. Ridley Scott's involvement, preceding Lynch's, remained largely shrouded in mystery until now. Thanks to T.D. Nguyen's discovery of a 133-page October 1980 draft script by Rudy Wurlitzer (from the Coleman Luck archives at Wheaton College), we can finally explore Scott's vision.
Scott, fresh from the success of Alien, inherited a sprawling, un-cinematic two-part screenplay by Herbert himself. Selecting only a handful of scenes, Scott commissioned Wurlitzer for a complete rewrite, envisioning a two-part epic. Wurlitzer's adaptation, while aiming to capture the novel's essence, infused a distinct sensibility. Scott himself later described the script as "pretty fucking good."
Several factors contributed to the project's demise: Scott's grief following his brother's death, his reluctance to film in Mexico (De Laurentiis's demand), a ballooning budget exceeding $50 million, and the allure of Universal's Blade Runner project. However, a key factor, as revealed in A Masterpiece in Disarray – David Lynch's Dune, was the script's lack of unanimous studio approval.
Was Wurlitzer's script a cinematic failure, or simply too dark and politically charged for mainstream appeal? A detailed analysis of the script allows for a personal judgment. While Wurlitzer and Scott declined to comment, the script itself offers compelling insights.
A Darker Paul Atreides
The script opens with a dream sequence depicting apocalyptic armies, foreshadowing Paul's destiny. Scott's signature visual density is evident in descriptions like "birds and insects become a whirling hysteria of motion." The protagonist, Paul, is portrayed not as the handsome Timothée Chalamet, but as a seven-year-old, undergoing trials that reveal his psychic connection with his mother, Jessica. While Lynch's version featured similar imagery of pain and suffering, Wurlitzer's version emphasizes Paul's assertive nature, showcasing his rapid growth and mastery of combat skills. This contrasts with Lynch's portrayal, where Paul's vulnerability creates greater tension.
The Emperor's Demise and Political Intrigue
The script introduces a pivotal twist: the Emperor's death, a catalyst for the events that follow. The scene of the Emperor's funeral, with its mystical elements and colorful energies, is strikingly original. The Baron Harkonnen's offer to share Arrakis' spice production, ultimately rejected by Duke Leto, echoes a famous line from Lynch's film: "He who controls the spice controls the universe." This raises questions about potential influence between the two scripts.
The Guild Navigator and Arrakis
The script vividly depicts the Guild Navigator, a spice-mutated creature, adding a unique visual element absent from other adaptations. The Atreides' arrival on Arrakis showcases a medieval aesthetic, emphasizing swords, feudal customs, and ecological concerns. The squalid streets of Arakeen, inspired by The Battle of Algiers, highlight class disparity. A new action-packed bar fight scene, reminiscent of 1980s action films, introduces Paul and Duncan to Stilgar, the Fremen leader.
Intense Desert Escape and Fremen Encounter
Paul and Jessica's escape into the desert is depicted with intense detail, emphasizing the harsh environment and the challenges they face. The encounter with the sandworm mirrors Villeneuve's adaptation, but the script omits the controversial mother-son incestuous relationship present in earlier drafts, a point of contention with Herbert and De Laurentiis. The Fremen encounter, including the duel with Jamis and the Water of Life ceremony, is both brutal and spiritually charged. The script ends with the Fremen accepting Paul and Jessica, setting the stage for future conflicts.
A Bold, Unconventional Vision
Wurlitzer's script, while deviating significantly from the source material, offers a unique interpretation of Dune, emphasizing ecological concerns, political intrigue, and spiritual elements. Its dark and violent tone, along with its unconventional portrayal of Paul, likely contributed to its rejection. However, its bold vision and unique approach to the source material make it a fascinating piece of cinematic history. The script's emphasis on ecological devastation and the exploitation of the populace remains strikingly relevant today. Perhaps, in the future, a filmmaker will revisit this adaptation, bringing its unique vision to the big screen.
