Oscar Isaac joins Denis Villeneuve’s Dune as Duke Leto Atreides

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

One of the upcoming sci-fi flicks that I'm looking forward to checking out is director Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's DUNE. I have loved almost everything that Villeneuve has done to-date (most especially BLADE RUNNER 2049) and I have a special place in my heart for David Lynch's big-budget 1984 adaptation starring Kyle MacLachlan and Sting. So yeah, I'm looking forward to DUNE and today we have another reason to get excited as Oscar Isaac has joined the cast.

Isaac is a name genre fans are getting to know more and more these days with roles in films such as EX MACHINA and ANNIHILATION, along with some movies called STAR WARS. THR reports that Isaac will be playing the role of Duke Leto Atreides, husband to Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and father to Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet). Duke Atreides was played by Jürgen Prochnow in David Lynch's version and William Hurt in John Harrison's 2000 adaptation. 

Since this new version doesn't have an official synopsis yet, here's the plot rundown on Lynch's version:

In the year 10191, a spice called melange is the most valuable substance known in the universe, and its only source is the desert planet Arrakis. A royal decree awards Arrakis to Duke Leto Atreides and ousts his bitter enemies, the Harkonnens. However, when the Harkonnens violently seize back their fiefdom, it is up to Paul (Kyle MacLachlan), Leto's son, to lead the Fremen, the natives of Arrakis, in a battle for control of the planet and its spice. Based on Frank Herbert's epic novel.

Isaac, Ferguson, and Chalamet are joined in the cast of this new version by the likes of Dave Bautista as Rabban, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Harkonnen, and Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Mohiam. Filming is expected to start in the second quarter of 2019 at locations in Budapest and Jordan with Villeneuve directing from a screenplay he co-wrote along with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts. Villeneuve is also producing with Mary Parent, and Cale Boyter, with Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Thomas Tull, and Kim Herbert executive producing and Kevin J. Anderson serving as a creative consultant. You can buy David Lynch's DUNE starring Kyle MacLachlan and Patrick Stewart on Blu-ray HERE.