Dune Movie Will NOT Feature the Whole Book

Frank Herbert's Dune may have come out back in the 60s, but its influence in pop-culture remains solid and has influenced several properties from Star Wars to Blade Runner. With the movie set to come out this December, director Denis Villeneuve explains it will only feature half of the first book.

Talking to Vanity Fair, Villeneuve explains, "I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie… The world is too complex. It's a world that takes its power in details."

Of course, big-budget franchises are no stranger to splitting book adaptations into two films for better coverage (or more profit in the box office). Harry Potter did it with The Deathly Hallows and so did Hunger Games and Twilight with their final films. Most recently, Stephen King's IT had also split the book into two films.

I have no doubt that Villeneuve knows what he's doing. After Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, he's cemented himself as a must-watch director when it comes to sci-fi. Despite critical acclaim though, that doesn't mean that the movie that comes out is going to be bringing in an audience. Such was the case with Villeneuve's Blade Runner sequel which was a critical darling but underperformed in the box office.

If anything, things are actually looking good for Dune. The movie has a ridiculous amount of stars in it which is sure to be a huge draw. Let's just hope that Villeneuve's take won't be a too high concept that non-sci-fi fans will be able to enjoy it as well.

Though the book may be more than 50 years old, Villeneuve still thinks that it has a solid message. He says:

"No matter what you believe, Earth is changing, and we will have to adapt… That's why I think that Dune, this book, was written in the 20th century. It was a distant portrait of the reality of the oil and capitalism and the exploitation—the overexploitation—of Earth. Today, things are just worse. It's a coming-of-age story, but also a call for action for the youth."

Catch Dune when it hits theaters Dec. 18.

Read Also: Dune Releases First Look at Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Zendaya, and More