For a while now, we've mostly heard about the sprawling, star-studded cast that Denis Villeneuve has been building for his ambitious attempt to adapt Frank Herbert's sci-fi saga that kicks off with the first book, simply titled Dune. Now we know when the film will arrive, as Warner Bros. has announced a 20 November, 2020 release date.
Herbert's 1965 tome chronicles a far-future galaxy where noble houses squabble and clash for control of planets and resources. We're introduced to House Atreides, led by Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), which has just gained authority over valuable world Arrakis. The harsh desert planet is the source for the spice known as melange, a mind-altering substance that aids interstellar navigation.
When the rival Harkonnen house (commanded by Stellan Skarsgård's Baron) conspires with the Emperor to betray and attack the Atreides, scion Paul (Timothée Chalamet) must flee into the desert with mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson). There, he meets the local natives, known as Fremen, learns their ways and rises to become a military and religious leader, launching a revolution to wrest back control of the planet.
With Villeneuve, Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts on script duty, the cast already includes Zendaya, Dave Bautista and Charlotte Rampling, while Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin are all nearing deals to join them.
So now we know: a year and a few months to wait for this one. Expect approximately 475 people to be cast in the time between then and now.
Keep up to date with all the latest movie news, click here to subscribe to Empire on Great Magazines and have the latest issue delivered to your door every month.