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David Lynch’s 1984 version ofDunedid not enjoy any critical or commercial success at the time of its release but went on to become a major cult hit. The failure could’ve proven too much for Lynch who refused to look back at the film or watch its latest adaptation from Denis Villeneuve. Interestingly, he seemed to have a clue about the fate of the film even before its release.
During the promotional interviews forDune, Lynch wasn’t overly confident about the film. Fans later came to know that many behind-the-scenes troubles impacted the film’s quality including studio interference. When asked if the film would put him in the ranks of directors like Steven Spielberg, Lynch replied that he didn’t even want to think about it at the time.
David Lynch shut down the Steven Spielberg comparisons beforeDunerelease
WhenDavid Lynchdecided to adapt Frank Herbert’sDunenovel into a film, fans were too excited. The book made waves among American readers and went on to become a genre-defining story. Fans expected Lynch to recreate the same magic. However, his film received criticism upon release for its not-so-accurate adaptation of the novel’s essence.
Satisfying ‘Dune: Part 2’ Scene Has a David Lynch Homage Despite His Vow to “never watch” Denis Villeneuve’s Adaptation
The film was made on a budget of $40-42 million and only managed to earn $30.9 million from the U.S. and Canada (via Box Office Mojo). Lynch largely tried to disassociate himself from the film due to the negative reactions. Interestingly, while promoting his futuristic fantasy film, Lynch never tried to hype up the fans.
He was not overly confident in interviews about his film, something evident from an old interview withITN‘s Stephen Phillips. During the interview, Phillips asked theMulholland Drivedirector,“Does this film make you feel that you might sort of enter the lists with Steven Spielberg?”. TheJurassic Parkdirector was at the peak of Hollywood after making the summer blockbusterJaws.
Lynch’s reply was pretty quick,“I don’t even want to think about that.”He shared that he was thankful that he could complete the film as he considered it one of the hardest projects he had ever done. He shared that he hoped for the best after people got to watch his film. He shared:
I’m thankful that I’ve done it and like I said it’s the hardest thing I ever did and what happens to it now is not up to me. It’s up to the people. I just hope for the best.
Elsewhere in the interview, when asked if he would do similar big-budget movies in the same genre, Lynch shared that he wanted to try different things. It appeared from his responses that Lynch knew the fate of the film, which is not surprising considering he had argued with the studio over some creative choices.
Interestingly, while Lynch didn’t want to be compared toSteven Spielberg, theE.T.director considered Lynch to be a legend. When he wanted to portray his icon John Ford on screen inThe Fabelmans, Spielberg approached Lynch to do it.
David Lynch didn’t want to look back at hisDunefilm
David Lynch himself considersDunea black mark in his filmography. According to theTwin Peaksdirector,Dunewas a“gigantic sadness in [his] life”because he couldn’t do the film he wanted. He shared in aQ&Aposted to his YouTube channel that he receivedno creative freedom from the studioand had to work with a poor budget. He shared:
I’m proud of everything except Dune. I’ve liked so much working on different movies. It’s not so much about pride but the enjoyment of doing, the enjoyment of the work. I’ve enjoyed working in all these different mediums. I feel really lucky to have been able to enjoy those things and to be able to live.
In 2020, he shared withTHRthat he had“zero interest in Dune”referring toDenis Villeneuve‘s version. He added that it was because the material“was a heartache for me.”He shared that he didn’t want to see Villeneuve’s film and relive the painful memories from the film.
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During an interview with Cahiers du Cinema in 2023, he further reiterated this fact,“I will never watch it, and I don’t even want you to tell me about it, ever”(via World of Reel).
Both versions ofDuneare now available for streaming on Max.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
