Editing Dune (1984 film) (section)

== Production ==
{{Main|Dune (novel)#Early stalled attempts}}

===Early attempts and Jodorowsky's ''Dune''===
After the book's initial success, producers began attempting to adapt it. In mid-1971, film producer [[Arthur P. Jacobs]] optioned the [[film rights]] to [[Frank Herbert]]'s 1965 novel ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]'', on agreement to produce a film within nine years, but died in mid-1973, while plans for the film (including [[David Lean]] already attached to direct) were still in development.<ref name="nytimes production">{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/04/movies/the-world-of-dune-is-filmed-in-mexico.html | title = The World Of 'Dune' Is Filmed In Mexico | first = Aljean | last = Harmetz | date = September 4, 1983 | access-date = October 31, 2021 | work = [[The New York Times]] | archive-date = November 1, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211101030112/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/04/movies/the-world-of-dune-is-filmed-in-mexico.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="BookToScreenTimeline">{{cite web |url=http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/timeline.asp |title=''Dune'': Book to Screen Timeline |website=DuneInfo |access-date=January 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517163719/http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/timeline.asp |archive-date=May 17, 2011}}</ref>

The film rights reverted in 1974, when the option was acquired by a French consortium led by Jean-Paul Gibon, with [[Alejandro Jodorowsky]] attached to direct.<ref name="nytimes production"/> Jodorowsky approached contributors including the [[progressive rock]] groups [[Pink Floyd]] and [[Magma (band)|Magma]] for some of the music, [[Dan O'Bannon]] for the visual effects, and artists [[H. R. Giger]], [[Jean Giraud]], and [[Chris Foss]] for set and character design. Potential cast included [[Salvador Dalí]] as the Emperor, [[Orson Welles]] as Baron Harkonnen, [[Mick Jagger]] as Feyd-Rautha, [[Udo Kier]] as Piter De Vries, [[David Carradine]] as Leto Atreides, Jodorowsky's son [[Brontis Jodorowsky]] as Paul Atreides, and [[Gloria Swanson]].<ref name="Metal hurlant">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/jodorowsky.asp |title=''Dune: Le Film Que Voue Ne Verrez Jamais'' |trans-title=''Dune'': The Film You Will Never See |first=Alejandro |last=Jodorowsky |author-link=Alejandro Jodorowsky |magazine=[[Métal hurlant]] |issue=107 |year=1985 |via=DuneInfo |access-date=February 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429101454/http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/jodorowsky.asp |archive-date=April 29, 2011}}</ref> The project was ultimately canceled for several reasons, largely because funding disappeared when the project ballooned to a 10–14 hour epic.<ref>{{cite AV media | title =[[Jodorowsky's Dune]] |people=[[Frank Pavich]] (director) |date=2013 |medium=Documentary}}</ref>

Although their film project never reached production, the work that Jodorowsky and his team put into ''Dune'' significantly impacted subsequent science-fiction films. In particular, ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' (1979), written by O'Bannon, shared much of the same creative team for the visual design as had been assembled for Jodorowsky's film. A documentary, ''[[Jodorowsky's Dune]]'' (2013), was made about Jodorowsky's failed attempt at an adaptation.<ref name="Variety Cannes">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/hold-directors-fortnight-1200407774/ |title=U.S. Fare Looms Large in Directors' Fortnight |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |first=Elsa |last=Keslassy |date=April 23, 2013 |access-date=April 30, 2013 |archive-date=April 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426003118/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/hold-directors-fortnight-1200407774/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Deadline Sony">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2013/07/jodorowskys-dune-movie-sony-pictures-classics-acquires-539001/ |title=Sony Classics Acquires Cannes Docu ''Jodorowsky's Dune'' |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=July 11, 2013 |access-date=December 8, 2014 |archive-date=December 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210231123/http://deadline.com/2013/07/jodorowskys-dune-movie-sony-pictures-classics-acquires-539001/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===De Laurentiis's first attempt===
In late 1976, Italian producer [[Dino De Laurentiis]] purchased the rights for ''Dune'' from Gibon's consortium.<ref name="nytimes production"/> De Laurentiis commissioned Herbert to write a new screenplay in 1978; the script Herbert turned in was 175 pages long, the equivalent of nearly three hours of screen time.<ref name="nytimes production"/> De Laurentiis then hired director [[Ridley Scott]] in 1979, with [[Rudy Wurlitzer]] writing the screenplay and H. R. Giger retained from the Jodorowsky production.<ref name="nytimes production"/> Scott intended to split the book into two movies. He worked on three drafts of the script, using ''[[The Battle of Algiers]]'' (1966) as a point of reference, before moving on to direct another science-fiction film, ''[[Blade Runner]]'' (1982). He recalled the pre-production process was slow, and finishing the project would have been even more time-intensive:

{{blockquote|But after seven months I dropped out of ''Dune'', by then Rudy Wurlitzer had come up with a first-draft script, which I felt was a decent distillation of Frank Herbert's [book]. But I also realized ''Dune'' was going to take a lot more work—at least two and a half years' worth. And I didn't have the heart to attack that because my [older] brother Frank unexpectedly died of cancer while I was prepping the De Laurentiis picture. Frankly, that freaked me out. So, I went to Dino and told him the ''Dune'' script was his.
:—From ''Ridley Scott: The Making of His Movies'' by Paul M. Sammon<ref name="BookToScreenTimeline" />}}

===Lynch's screenplay and direction===
In 1981, the nine-year film rights were set to expire. De Laurentiis renegotiated the rights from the author, adding to them the rights to the ''Dune'' sequels, written and unwritten.<ref name="nytimes production"/> He then showed the book to [[Sid Sheinberg]], president of [[MCA Inc.|MCA]], the parent company of [[Universal City Studios]], which approved the book. After seeing ''[[The Elephant Man (1980 film)|The Elephant Man]]'' (1980), producer [[Raffaella De Laurentiis]] decided that David Lynch should direct the movie. Around that time, Lynch received several other directing offers, including ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''. De Laurentiis contacted Lynch, who said he had not heard of the book. After reading it and "loving it", he met with De Laurentiis and agreed to direct the film.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Sammon|first=Paul M. |url=https://archive.org/stream/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2014%20No%204-5%20%28Sept%201984%29#page/n29/mode/2up |title=David Lynch's ''Dune''|magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] |date=September 1984 |volume=14|number=4/5|page=31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |title=David Lynch Interview from 1985 on Dune|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvCeLzC2sNs|language=en|access-date=October 25, 2021|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025161253/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvCeLzC2sNs|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2021/10/20/22735151/dune-david-lynch-1984-movie|title=When David Lynch Took on the Impossible Task of ''Dune''|first=Keith|last=Phipps|date=October 20, 2021|website=The Ringer|access-date=April 11, 2024|archive-date=March 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306204726/https://www.theringer.com/movies/2021/10/20/22735151/dune-david-lynch-1984-movie|url-status=live}}</ref> Lynch worked on the script for six months with [[Eric Bergren]] and Christopher De Vore. The team yielded two drafts of the script and split over creative differences. Lynch then worked on five more drafts. Initially, Lynch had scripted ''Dune'' across two films, but eventually it was condensed into a single film.<ref name="nytimes production"/>

While De Laurentiis looked for a young actor for the film;<ref>https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-23-ca-1803-story.html</ref> [[Tom Cruise]], [[Kevin Costner]], [[Lewis Smith (actor)|Lewis Smith]], [[Zach Galligan]], [[Michael Biehn]], [[Kenneth Branagh]] and [[Val Kilmer]] either auditioned or were screen-tested for the role of Paul. Kilmer was the top choice for the role until MacLachlan screen-tested.<ref name="comingsoon">{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/dune-masterpiece-of-disarray-excerpt|title=David Lynch's ''Dune'' almost cast Val Kilmer, and more secrets from the ''Dune'' oral history|first=Belen|last=Edwards|date=August 25, 2023|website=[[Mashable]]|access-date=March 12, 2024|archive-date=March 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312201326/https://mashable.com/article/dune-masterpiece-of-disarray-excerpt|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/902475-cs-interview-kenneth-branagh-on-orient-express-thor-more|title=''CS'' Interview: Kenneth Branagh on ''Orient Express'', ''Thor'' & More!|first=Max|last=Evry|date=November 11, 2017|access-date=March 27, 2024|archive-date=March 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327085230/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/902475-cs-interview-kenneth-branagh-on-orient-express-thor-more|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/masterpiece-in-disarray-david-lynch-dune-oral-history-book-excerpt-exclusive/|title=David Lynch's ''Dune'' Oral History Book Excerpt Chronicles One Actor's Feelings of Losing Paul Atreides Role|first=Grant|last=Hermanns|date=September 4, 2023|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=April 28, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115123045/https://screenrant.com/masterpiece-in-disarray-david-lynch-dune-oral-history-book-excerpt-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Aldo Ray]] was cast as Gurney Halleck, but due to his alcoholism was replaced with Stewart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/david-lynch-dune-mess-or-misunderstood-masterpiece/|title='Morally depraved' or misunderstood masterpiece? How ''Dune'' drove David Lynch to despair|first=Ed|last=Power|date=March 4, 2024|website=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=April 28, 2024|archive-date=April 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427063929/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/david-lynch-dune-mess-or-misunderstood-masterpiece/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Glenn Close]] tested for the role of Lady Jessica, but lost to Annis.<ref name="comingsoon"/> [[Helena Bonham Carter]] was originally cast as Princess Irulan, but she left due to scheduling conflicts with ''[[A Room with a View (1985 film)|A Room with a View]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/609065/dune-david-lynch-movie-facts|title=12 Epic Facts About David Lynch's ''Dune''|date=November 22, 2019|website=Mental Floss|access-date=March 27, 2024|archive-date=March 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326191402/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/609065/dune-david-lynch-movie-facts|url-status=live}}</ref> Madsen said in 2016 that she was signed for three films, as the producers "thought they were going to make ''[[Star Wars original trilogy|Star Wars]]'' for grown-ups."<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l_UJzn7L7A|title=Virginia Madsen on ''Dune''|date=September 11, 2016|website=DuneInfo|via=YouTube|access-date=July 16, 2018|archive-date=April 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424062743/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l_UJzn7L7A|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 30, 1983, with the 135-page sixth draft of the script, ''Dune'' finally began shooting. It was shot entirely in Mexico, mostly at [[Churubusco Studios]]; De Laurentiis said this was due in part to the favorable exchange rate to get more value for their production budget, and that no studio in Europe had the expansive capabilities they needed for the production. With a budget over $40–42 million, ''Dune'' required 80 sets built on 16 sound stages, and had a total crew of 1,700, with over 20,000 extras. Many of the exterior shots were filmed in the [[Samalayuca Dune Fields]] in [[Ciudad Juárez]], [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]].<ref name="nytimes production"/><ref name="Dune, Behind the Scenes">{{cite web|title=Emilio Ruiz del Río|website=DuneInfo|url=http://www.duneinfo.com/arrakis/erdr/|access-date=July 21, 2012|archive-date=November 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111120740/http://www.duneinfo.com/arrakis/erdr/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Samalayuca Dunes declared natural protected zone |url=http://www.chihuahuanfrontier.com/state/news/65-samalayuca.html |website=Chihuahuan Frontier |date=June 9, 2009 |access-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119015806/http://www.chihuahuanfrontier.com/state/news/65-samalayuca.html |archive-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> Filming ran for at least six months into September 1983, plagued by various production problems such as failing electricity or communication lines due to the country's infrastructure, or health-related problems with their cast and crew.<ref name="nytimes production"/>

====Editing====
The rough cut of ''Dune'' without [[post-production]] effects ran over four hours long, but Lynch's intended cut of the film (as reflected in the seventh and final draft of the script) was almost three hours long. Universal and the film's financiers expected a standard, two-hour cut of the film. Dino De Laurentiis, his daughter Raffaella, and Lynch excised numerous scenes, filmed new scenes that simplified or concentrated plot elements, and added [[voice-over]] narrations, plus a new introduction by Virginia Madsen. Contrary to rumor, Lynch made no other version than the theatrical cut.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlE7DZrzik0|title=David Lynch on Dune|date=September 30, 2021 |via=www.youtube.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419085601/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlE7DZrzik0|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Versions====
A television version was aired in 1988 in two parts totaling 186 minutes; it replaced Madsen's opening monolog with a much longer description of the setting that used [[concept art]] stills. Lynch disavowed this version and had his name removed from the credits. [[Alan Smithee]] was credited, a pseudonym used by directors who wish to disavow a film.  The extended and television versions additionally credit writer Lynch as [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] [[John Wilkes Booth|Booth]].  This version (without recap and second credit roll) has previously been released on DVD as ''Dune: Extended Edition''.

Several longer versions have been spliced together, particularly for two other versions, one for San Francisco station [[KTVU]], and the other a 178-minute [[fan edit]] from scratch by SpiceDiver. The latter cut was officially released by Koch Films (on behalf of current international rights holder [[Lionsgate]]) on a deluxe 4K/Blu-ray box set released in Germany in 2021. The KTVU and SpiceDiver versions combine footage from the theatrical and television versions, and downplay the repeated footage in the TV cut.<ref name="VW 1996">{{cite web |url=http://www.figmentfly.com/published/dunearticle.html |title=Building the Perfect ''Dune'' |first=Sean |last=Murphy |work=[[Video Watchdog]] |issue=33/34 |year=1996 |access-date=December 15, 2014 |archive-date=December 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229101252/http://www.figmentfly.com/published/dunearticle.html |url-status=live }}</ref> While working on ''A Masterpiece In Disarray'', Max Evry discovered a never before-seen deleted scene which was released in restored form in March 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nerdist.com/article/watch-newly-restored-deleted-scene-from-david-lynch-dune/ |title=See a Restored Never-Before-Seen Lost Deleted Scene From David Lynch's DUNE |first=Michael |last=Walsh |website=[[Nerdist]] |date=March 11, 2024 |access-date=March 13, 2024 |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312132132/https://nerdist.com/article/watch-newly-restored-deleted-scene-from-david-lynch-dune/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The author also reconstructed the film's originally planned ending which is more in line with the source text.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nerdist.com/article/watch-newly-restored-deleted-scene-from-david-lynch-dune/ |title=David Lynch's 1984 "Dune" Had a Different Ending |first=Mary Anne |last=Butler |website=[[Nerdbot]] |date=September 13, 2024 |access-date=March 13, 2024 |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312132132/https://nerdist.com/article/watch-newly-restored-deleted-scene-from-david-lynch-dune/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Although Universal had approached Lynch for a possible [[director's cut]] prior to the director's death in 2025, Lynch had declined every offer and preferred not to discuss ''Dune'' in interviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.duneinfo.com/kaitain/articles/dune-resurrection.asp |title=Dune Resurrection – Re-visiting Arrakis | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502142658/http://www.duneinfo.com/kaitain/articles/dune-resurrection.asp | archive-date=May 2, 2009 |website=DuneInfo |access-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref> In 2022, though, during an interview about the remaster of his film ''[[Inland Empire (film)|Inland Empire]]'' (2006), he admitted to the surprised interviewer that he was interested in the idea. He offered the caveat that he did not believe it would ever happen, nor that anything in the unused footage would satisfy him enough for a director's cut, as he said he was "selling out" during production. Nevertheless, he said enough time had passed that he was at least curious to take another look at the footage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Simon |first1=Brent |title=David Lynch on remastering Inland Empire, revisiting his earlier work and the chances of a Dune do-over |url=https://www.avclub.com/david-lynch-inland-empire-interview-dune-restoration-1848795394 |website=The A.V. Club |date=April 15, 2022 |access-date=April 16, 2022 |archive-date=April 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416043716/https://www.avclub.com/david-lynch-inland-empire-interview-dune-restoration-1848795394 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Canceled sequels===
When production started, it was anticipated for the film to launch a ''Dune'' franchise, and plans had been made to film two sequels back-to-back. Many of the props were put into storage after the completion of production in anticipation of future use, MacLachlan had signed for a two-film deal, and Lynch had begun writing a screenplay for the second film. Once ''Dune'' was released and failed at the box office, the sequel plans were canceled. In January 1985 Lynch stated:

{{blockquote|I'm writing the script for ''Dune II''. ''Dune II'' is totally ''[[Dune Messiah]]'', with variations on the theme. [...] ''Dune Messiah'' is a very short book, and a lot of people don't like it, but in there are some really nifty ideas. I'm real excited about that, and I think it could make a really good film. It starts 12 years later, and this creates a whole new set of problems. [...] It should have a different mood. [...] It should be 12 strange years later.
:—From ''David Lynch'', ''[[Starburst (magazine)|Starburst]]'' #78 (January 1985)<ref name=":W">{{Cite web|date=January 10, 2024|title=I Found David Lynch's Lost ''Dune II'' Script|url=https://www.wired.com/story/david-lynch-dune-sequel-script-unearthed|access-date=January 10, 2024|website=[[Wired (website)|Wired]]|last=Evry|first=Max|archive-date=January 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110142240/https://www.wired.com/story/david-lynch-dune-sequel-script-unearthed/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

In July 2023, writer Max Evry, doing research for his book, ''A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch's Dune'', on the first film's influence, discovered Lynch's half-completed draft treatment for the second film at the Frank Herbert Archives at [[California State University, Fullerton]]. Lynch was reached for comment in January 2024 and responded through a representative that he recalled beginning work on a script, but much like the first film, did not want to comment further. Based partly on ''Dune Messiah'', Evry described the tentatively-titled ''Dune II'' as having surpassed the novel's narrative approach in the screenplay adaption.<ref name=":W"/>