The 'Dune' Trailer Shows How Denis Villeneuve Created His Vision

Denis Villeneuve is not using many green screens. In a cast interview, he talks about building huge practical sets and wanting to shoot in the middle of a real desert. It's a movie about adapting to the world, and Villeneuve wanted to create something that felt like the book but also gave us another world we had never imagined before. 

While these quotes feel epic, I have to say I am approaching Dune as an intimidated viewer. 

I had to watch this epic cast special to understand the scope and scale of the story. 

And I'm not sure I truly was able to synthesize it. 

Here's the official synopsis:

"A mythic and emotionally charged hero's journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive."

Here's what I understand, Timothée Chalamet will star as a young hero named Paul Atreides—who is a leader. Oscar Isaac plays his father Duke Leto Atreides whose kingdom is dying. Rebecca Ferguson plays his mother, Lady Jessica. Zendaya plays a mysterious woman with glowing blue eyes named Chani who is the love interest. The two warriors Gurney Halleck and Duncan Idaho who end up training Paul in combat are played by Josh Brolin and Jason Momoa. They seem affable and Momoa comes across like comic relief in glimpses. 

Stilgar, the leader of indigenous people called Fremen is played by Javier Bardem (I had to Google this). Stellan Skarsgard plays Baron Vladimir—the leader of House Harkonnen from Arrakis that battles with the Atreides family. He looks like Vader with his helmet off. 

Charlotte Rampling plays the reverend mother of an order of women called the Bene Gesserit who can read and control minds and also seems creepy as hell. 

Sharon Duncan-Brewster plays an ecologist and an independent power broker Dr. Liet Kynes who tries to keep the peace. In the book, that part is a man but Villeneuve changed it and that seems very cool and inclusive, so I dig it.

Check out the trailer below!

Dune debuts in theaters on Dec. 18, 2020.

Are you excited for Dune? Let us know in the comments.