…or is it the trailer? Is it a trailer for a trailer? Previews within previews within previews.

So, I’m glad that I’ve finally managed to find this as everyone else in the world seems to have seen it before me. I saw it in a very low quality, shaky format someone shared on Twitter complete with them trying not to breathe (and failing) over the top.

As I said above, the text in the trailer is advertising a the full trailer coming on the 9th September, which I imagine will have more content. Prior to seeing this, I’d already read a description of it and seen images of most of the things shown within. I’d not seen Rabban up to this point so it was nice to see Dave Bautista in costume looking very white and very stern.

Hopefully, I’ll get to see a higher quality version soon. I opened up Twitter through my Xbox and watched it on the big screen but the quality suffered so much it was barely watchable so I’ve restricted myself to rewatches on my phone.

So, for those who have not seen it, we get a glimpse of the gom jabbar test, which seems very well done – Charlotte Rampling and Timothee Chalamet in a large room lit from above. Along with that we see most of the main players briefly, starting with what appears to be the Atreides’ arrival on Arrakis.

There are appearances by Oscar Isaac, Chang Chen, Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Sharon Duncan Brewster, Zendaya and Stellan Skarsgard. I didn’t see Stephen McKinley Henderson’s Thufir Hawat in amongst all that lot but he may have been pictured.

What did I think? My initial reaction is a little dampened by the fact that I knew what was coming. I’d even heard the audio on someone Twitter feed with them shouting over the top of it. All that said, however, this looks pretty awesome. It has a serious look about it that says to me what I’ve thought all along – that the source material is being treated with a lot of respect. I love the design of the ornithopter, and seeing the Baron rising from his pool of oil or whatever was a real sight. Oscar Isaac, as I said he would do in my reaction post to his casting, really carries off that haunted look of the doomed Duke. Javier Bardem looked great, as did the other Fremen. This all looks like it is shaping up very, very well indeed. I’m looking forward to the Empire magazine exclusive when that is released on the 3rd. That will be the next news I get, I can imagine.

My only worry is that audiences won’t be flocking back to the cinema any time soon. If my trip to see Tenet on opening night was anything to go by, I have grave concerns for the future of the cinema. If this film fails to make money, it will be a real shame and might impact on whether we ever get to see the conclusion of the story in the second film.

On the other hand, I like to be positive and I was thinking about what might happen if this really does do well. Should they film Messiah or go straight on to Children? Children seems to be a more bankable option in my view. The events of Messiah could be dealt with quite easily in a prelude. Children has a more meaty story and is in my opinion more filmable.

Thanks for reading,

Check out my other Dune-related posts by clicking the links below.

Richard

Tonight’s Viewing – Children of Dune (2003)

Casting Dune – Vanity Fair First Look reaction

Casting Dune – Logo reaction