'Dune' and 'The Lord of the Rings' Share More Than You Think — But Here’s Why That Both Works and Feels Surprising to Me
Epic storytelling, faithful adaptation, yet unexpected emotional depth keeps me hooked.
So, here’s the thing — when I first watched Dune and its sequel, I was blown away by how Denis Villeneuve managed to take Frank Herbert’s famously tricky novel and turn it into this huge, epic cinematic journey.
But what really hit me later was that Dune shares more than just sci-fi vibes with The Lord of the Rings. It’s not about little details, it’s about the whole ideology behind it.
"I truly love this book" — Villeneuve’s vibe really speaks to me
Villeneuve has talked about how Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy showed him what a respectful adaptation looks like. Jackson didn’t just slap Tolkien’s name on the project — he immersed himself in the spirit of the books.
And Villeneuve’s approach is similar: he made a conscious decision to stick close to the heart of Herbert’s story.
He said, "I tried my utmost to remain faithful to the spirit and aesthetics of what I envisioned when reading the book." And honestly, you can feel that dedication throughout the films. It makes me want to pick up the original Dune novel again.
Lessons from Peter Jackson — it’s about respect, not reinvention
Jackson once said that he made The Lord of the Rings not for himself, but for Tolkien — without pushing his own political or ideological spin. That idea really inspired Villeneuve.
Rather than remixing Dune with his own agenda, he focused on transferring its atmosphere and emotional core to the screen. That’s probably why the movies feel so genuine and immersive.
What’s next? Villeneuve’s leaving the door open
After Dune: Messiah, Villeneuve plans to explore other projects. But he’s smart enough to leave some storylines open, so other filmmakers can jump in and continue the saga.
Given how dense and esoteric Herbert’s later books get, I can see why he’d want fresh voices to take on that challenge. The Dune universe is huge, and it’s exciting to think of all the creative directions it might go.
