The Most Amazing Sci-Fi Film Never Made

Dune is one of the most beloved and celebrated science-fiction novels of all time. David Lynch directed the first big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert's epic story in 1984. There have also been a pair of TV mini-series versions of Dune and Children of Dune, which were produced for the SyFY channel in the early 2000s, and of course, the recent big-budget adaptation by Denis Villenueve, featuring an all-star cast and impressive visuals. That film covered the first part of the novel, and a sequel is currently in production. But did you know that there was another adaptation of Dune that was set to be released in the 1970s, which never made it past the planning stages? The story of that unrealized film project is a fascinating and intriguing tale, and it's covered in the engrossing documentary, 2013's Jodorowsky’s Dune.

Jodorowsky’s Dune is the story of an ambitious attempt to produce a sweeping film version of author Frank Herbert’s classic science-fiction epic during the mid 1970s. Alejandro Jodorowsky, who directed the cult films El Topo (1970) and The Holy Mountain (1973), wanted to make a fantastic, mind-expanding adaptation of the novel that would push the boundaries of film, and take the viewer’s cinematic experience to the next level. This absorbing documentary tells the story of Jodorowsky’s quest to put together the perfect team to make his dream project. That journey led him to enlist such talented artists as H.R. Giger, Moebius and Chris Foss, who worked on the design and look of the film. Dan O’Bannon (who later wrote the screenplay for Alien) was slated do the special effects.

Jodorowsky envisioned an eclectic all star cast that would include David Carradine, Orson Welles Mick Jagger and Salvador Dali. He wanted to feature music by Pink Floyd and other rock bands in the film, with different artists writing music for the different characters and planets featured in the story. The film features interviews with Jodorowsky, as well as some of the other crew members who worked on the project. You also get to view concept drawings, production art and costume designs for the movie. It’s clear that Jodorowsky was deeply passionate about the project, and what he hoped to achieve with it. He inspired that same dedication in the people who worked on the pre-production process with him. This movie would have been an out of this world, truly visionary piece of work, unlike any other science-fiction film produced up to that time.

Jodorowsky also came up with a massive book that featured the storyboards and designs for the film, along with its screenplay. He and his partners went to all the major studios to pitch the film. Sadly, no one wanted to co-produce or co-finance the film at the time. Most people who listened to his proposal lauded his unique vision, but thought the film would be impossible to make the way Jodorowsky envisioned it. Maybe the world just wasn’t ready for such a unique movie back then. As you know, Dune was eventually adapted for the big-screen in 1984, in a version directed by David Lynch. That movie was lambasted by critics and ended up a box office failure. Jodorowsky briefly touches upon his reaction to seeing Lynch's movie during his interview in the film.

 

While Jodorowsky’s version of Herbert's novel was never produced, you can tell that the experience of working on it left a lasting impression on his colleagues. The final portion of the movie details some of the amazing work that artists like Giger, Foss, O’Bannon and others worked so hard to create. There are also clips from some of the classic films that were later made by some of these talented people, or influenced by them and their unique visions of the future. Those memorable movies include Alien, Blade Runner and the original Star Wars. This is an engrossing story about the creative process, and the enthusiasm that true artists have for their work.  Jodorowsky’s Dune is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and various download/streaming sites. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg4OCeSTL08.