MovieChat Forums > Dune (1984) Discussion > David Lynch's 'Dune Messiah'

David Lynch's 'Dune Messiah'

posted 8 years ago by Fluke_Skywalker
11 replies | jump to latest

We all know that Lynch's Dune makes changes--some small, some fundamental--to Herbert's novel. Considering this was presumably the first of what was planned to be a franchise, I wonder what Lynch had in mind for Messiah? Some of those changes in this movie would've had consequences on the Messiah storyline that he would have had to address.

I know Lynch is famously reticent to talk about Dune, but is there anything out there, be it speculation or anecdotes from people associated w/the production, of where they saw things going in a sequel and what, if anything, they had planned for a continuing saga.

[–] Heart_Wrencher 8 years ago

It's a very nice question, what did Lynch have planned for a sequel.

All I know has to do with the action figure line. LJN agreed to the Dune licensing with A: Hopes the franchise would be huge like SW. And B: Secured licensing to for an action figure line for two more films. Needless to say, the film flopped, the figures languished on toy isle shelves, additional film were never made and LJN had no contingency plan. They produced Indiana Jones figures but then a PG-13 rating was slapped on the film putting parents off, and LJN dropped the Indy franchise all together.

"Oh look, There's a rape machine. I'd go outside If he'd look the other way."

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 8 years ago

First of all, thank you for the knowledge. You're right in my wheelhouse here, as I'm a 70s/80s toy collector (though I don't yet have any Dune or Temple of Doom figures). Poor LJN really took a bath in 1984 didn't they? Funny thing is that today both lines command pretty high prices on the secondary market. I recently came across a loose TOD Indy, complete, with a buy it now of over $100 and it had double digit watchers.

The fact that LJN had the license for two additional films tells me that the studio had plans to at least do through Children of Dune as a trilogy. I wonder how far they had gotten into pre-production on Messiah and if Lynch was attached?

Speaking of the LJN line, I've seen promotional material that show Gurney Halleck and lady Jessica figures that were ultimately never produced, so a second wave was likely planned and dropped when the film and the line underperformed.

[–] Heart_Wrencher 8 years ago

Film, cinema, franchising, merchandising. The nuts and bolts of it all is very, very fascinating to me.

I can't confirm or verify but its been said that a few weapons, accessories and vehicles released with the 1986 LJN Thundercats were reused and unproduced items from the Dune line. The most notable was Rabbans gun which was reused and packaged with Tuska. The Mutant Nose Diver and Sky Cutter were thought to initially be vehicles from the unproduced Dune line.

"Oh look, There's a rape machine. I'd go outside If he'd look the other way."

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 8 years ago

Ditto that. Whether it's learning about the ex post facto scramble to merchandise the original Star Wars or the fallout from hyped misfire, the stuff behind the scenes if often more interesting than what ended up on the screen.

I can certainly see that being true. Both of those vehicles have an aesthetic that would've fit in well w/Dune. And recycling molds (though in this case unused) is common. When Kenner did the toy line for Kevin Costner's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, they re-used molds from everything from Return of the Jedi to Super Powers. Hasbro similarly gussied up a G.I. Joe AWE Striker for their Stargate toy line.

[–] Heart_Wrencher 8 years ago

Ah yes, that Prince of Thieves line takes the cake in repurposing old molds. Those figures and playsets were beautifully done. I'd argue that the Sherwood Forest Play set was better than the Ewok village.

I can't get enough of the stuff. Documentaries on film productions are a must watch for me. Lost Soul, the doc on Stanley's Island of Doctor Moreau was very well done. Don't judge me too harshly, but I'm yet to watch Jodorowsky's Dune. Let me know if you have any recommendations.

"Oh look, There's a rape machine. I'd go outside If he'd look the other way."

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 8 years ago

I've looked the PoT stuff up on eBay recently and virtually all of it goes for a song. You can get the figures--carded--for $7-10 a piece. I agree that the PoT Sherwood is actually an improvement on the Ewok Village.

I can't judge you because unfortunately I still haven't watched Jodorowsky's Dune myself. Most sites have it available for streaming for $2.99, so really no excuse for me.

[–] pope_duke 8 years ago

Nice conversation here. I don't get into collecting, but it's still an interesting read.

Jodorowsky's Dune is worth a watch. He goes off the rails in a way that makes Lynch seem conservative. I think his ideas are interesting, on their own accord, but I am glad he did not do them as Dune.

He ended up lending his ideas to the comic Metabarons, which I found a very engrossing read.

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 8 years ago

I enjoy talking about all of the ancillary stuff re: movies, but merchandising in particular. It's a little like pop culture archeology.

I've heard that he (and his ideas) are certainly colorful. As a Dune fan, I'm long overdue to give it a watch.

Hadn't heard of Metabarons. I'll have to look it up when I get the chance.

[–] TheMouseShadow 8 years ago

Hard to imagine Lynch doing sequels, but i think the changes in the original would make it difficult to follow through with the Messiah events. Especially with the rain at the end, since Dune didnt become a lush paradise until well into Leto IIs reign.

[–] pope_duke 8 years ago

The rain bugs me, too. That one seems the most difficult to handle. I am sure something would be found, though. They could always play it off as a show of Muad'dib's oddly supernatural powers, then he never makes it rain anymore. Sounds lame, but so was having it in the first place.

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 7 years ago

He's probably reticent to talk about Dune because it was the worst movie he ever made, and indeed one of the worst movies anyone has ever made!

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