Casey’s Dune Hollywood Film Draft: Cameron, Stewart, Hemsworth, Connery, Nicholson

(Editor’s Note: The following is part of The First Cosmic Book News Fantasy Hollywood Draft)

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By: Casey Gordon

Director: James Cameron – Jimmy C, as I like to refer to him, is a relatively well known director, responsible for such cult hits and underrated classics like The Abyss, Titanic, and Avatar. Now, can he handle Dune? Good question. I think the answer is yes. He has dealt with licenses in several of his past productions, such as the Titanic (that one museum place owns it maybe, but I mean, he didn’t make it up. The Titanic hit an ice cube and sank. Oops), Rambo, and Aliens. And that group turned out well enough. Perhaps his biggest hits were mostly his creations, like Avatar, and not sourced from elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make Dune. Referencing Avatar again, that film also showed that he could lead a team to create a believable (if you’re into believing stuff) alien world, and then bring it to life. And maybe sand doesn’t sound exciting. But it is. Or maybe I should have picked Peter Jackson. But then the already long walking across Arrakis would become even longer. And Jimmy C’s milkshakes bring all the boys to the theatres.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2737:]]Gurney Halleck? Well, Patrick Stewart of course. What? You say he already has done it? DAMN RIGHT! And he hasn’t really changed at all. And the man is a muse. And he knows how to use a sword. I’m not going to explain it any more either. So there.

Duncan Idaho. He was a pretty cool guy. Until he died (OR DID HE? He did. But not really). But he is the Swordmaster in residence, the ladies loved him, and he killed record amounts of the Emperor’s Sardaukar. He is Chis Hemsworth. I mean, this is the role for him to play, look at his role as Thor, or the Huntsman (decent, but that movie–I shake my head).  He can easily be a warrior who enjoys his Spice beer a bit too much, but can easily hold his own in a fight. He could do it. 

Stilgar. He’s the stalwart leader of Sietch Tabr. The leader of the desert nomads; the Fremen. And he is Sean Connery. He is at the age where he can command respect, but has the appearance of one who has fought for many hard years in the past before he reached this place. And while he may be old, the fight hasn’t left him yet. Is he retired from acting? Not when he hears of his casting. A proper crazy Ivan this will be.

Baron Harkonnen will be Jack Nicholson. Now maybe he isn’t fat enough to be in a suspensor suit, but minor detail. He certainly has villainy under his [[wysiwyg_imageupload:2738:]]control, such as the commanding Colonel Jessup, the crazed Jack Torrance, or the dastardly Daryl van Horn. All of whom have characteristics that would combine to make one fantastic Baron. A sadistic, scheming old man with everything he needs, but nonetheless has lust for ever more power.

Next up is Tom Felton as the Sting. I mean Tom Felton as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Tom Felton is mainly known for one role, that of Draco Malfoy, which is how he came into consideration for this role. He has had plenty of practice at being a bad guy, but as an accessory to the main evil, not as his own menace, which is almost exactly what Feyd is. He can act the haughty heir, raised the sadistic heir of the Harkonnen family, as he did for the Malfoys. And while we all know what happens at the end, until that point, he’s had this role for 10 years. Now let it be used for a better franchise.

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:2739:]]The Lady Jessica is Cate Blanchett. The Lady Jessica is a respected role. She is the mother of Paul Muad’dib, the concubine of Duke Leto Atreides, and a Reverend Mother of the Fremen. She is in almost a regal position in the world of Dune. And Cate Blanchett’s filmography has helped prepare her for the role, as Queen Elizabeth I, Galadriel, and Katherine Hepburn. And all of those roles are of powerful, regal women, as is the Lady Jessica.

And finally we come to Paul Muad’dib Atreides. To be cast as Paul is Josh Hutcherson. Hutcherson has had a solid acting career since the age of 10.  Most recently, he was cast in the Hunger Games in the leading position as Peeta Somelastnameoranother.  And with that, he can become Paul. And while he might have been beaten up a bit in that film, he would kick way more a– on Dune. And he could do it. He’s a strong young actor, and this would cement his place in history.  In addition, it seems that his hair could be styled the same way that MacLachlan had his hair as Paul in the 1984 Dune film directed by David Lynch. Because that is the official Atreides heirstyle (get it?).

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The Spice must flow . . . again!