I finished the first book in the Dune series just a couple months ago. A solid four star story for me. And I heard just yesterday morning, the long-awaited trailer was on it’s way.
My first reaction? Bury my face in my hands and do a little deep breathing.
I’d waited patiently—so very patiently—for this moment. And when it did come, it was well worth the wait.
The second Paul showed up on the screen, the actual tears came.
I knew Timothée Chalamet was cast in the role. I’ve seen photos, but actually watching him in the trailer was something of an otherworldly experience. He is going to make a fantastic Paul. I just know it.
Then came Gurney Halleck.
If you’ve read anything I’ve ever written about Dune—or if you’ve had the unfortunate experience of having to listen to me go on and on about it in person—you’ll already know I love Halleck with my whole heart. Though we hardly got to see him in the trailer, I continue to believe Josh Brolin was the perfect casting choice. He has the exact amount of tough-guy and potentially-philosophical-music-loving-guy energy for the role to fit him like a glove.
I am still undecided on the casting choice of Zendaya as Chani, but I’m willing to give it a go.
There must be some reason for their choice that I haven’t yet picked up on. Plus, I have no idea who I would actually choose for the role if the casting decision were in my hands. I never seemed to develop deep feelings for Chani while reading the book. She’s sweet. She’s kind. She’s strong. But for some reason, I didn’t quite connect with her like I did the others.
The rest of the cast is just flawless.
There’s no other word in the English language strong enough to describe just how much I adore the casting decisions for this film. For the most part, there’s not a single other person I could have pictured in their role.
Dave Bautista as Beast Rabban? Amazing. He’s so spooky!
Oscar Isaac as Leto Atreides? Excellent.
Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica? A stroke of genius.
Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho? Couldn’t have cast him better myself.
The page to screen translation of the characters is just plain incredible.
Not only do they look perfect—and believe me, they do. But the more I ponder it, the more their acting styles fit as well. What a terribly difficult job, having to cast the actors for such a beloved story—and what a beautiful execution. I am beyond ecstatic to see them in action when the film is finally released.
Now, of course, I also took a look at everything happening beyond the characters, though it was quite the task to take my eyes off of them.
Arrakis looks incredible! The perfect unsettling, hardly inhabitable desert planet. I’m almost tempted to take a trip there myself.
The armies, the fires, the landscape, the ethereal quality of the entire story. It’s flawless, exactly how I imagined it—maybe even a little more vivid than it originally appeared in my imagination.
There’s something about seeing the characters I’ve read about and loved—the story I’ve read and loved—just sitting there on my television screen. Right in front of me.
It just makes it feel so real.
Brooke Nelson 
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