Empire releases exclusive Dune covers as trailer will debut ahead of Tenet

August 28th 2020, 11:34am

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

"Empire" has released three exclusive covers for Denis Villeneuve's DUNE as hype for the film's trailer begins to build with its debut ahead showings of TENET before being released online on September 9, 2020.

The new issue of "Empire" isn't just a showcase to display three new covers for the film. "Empire", in a major world exclusive, went on the set of Villeneuve’s ambitious adaptation. Not much more info was given about what is in the exclusive coverage but you can find out when the "Empire" issue hits stands on September 3, 2020.

As for the covers, the first is House Atreides, one of the great noble houses of Landsraad. Leading the cover is Timothee Chalamet’s young protagonist Paul Atreides, with Oscar Issac as his father Duke Leto, Rebecca Ferguson as the Bene Gesserit witch Lady Jessica, and Josh Brolin’s master-at-arms Gurney Halleck.

On the second cover, you’ll find the indigenous Fremen people of the planet Arrakis – including Javier Bardem’s Stilgar, leader of one of the Fremen tribes, and Zendaya’s tribe member Chani. Then there’s Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Liet-Kynes (gender-swapped from the original novel) who has become embedded among the Fremen, and Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho. There is a third cover for subscribers, created exclusively for "Empire" by Jane Yun and Enrique Torres at Bond, in collaboration with the filmmakers behind DUNE, which is a terrifying glimpse at the colossal sandworms of Arrakis – with one threatening to swallow an oblivious Paul Atreides whole.

This marks the second time that Herbert's 1965 novel has been adapted for the big screen. The first film came in 1984 and was directed by David Lynch. The film starred Kyle MacLachlan and featured an ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. Lynch's take, which he considers his biggest career disappointment due to his lack of creative control and studio interference, was a box office failure and was negatively reviewed by critics. Although the film has developed a cult following in the subsequent years, Villeneuve is hoping that his vision will be met with much more enthusiasm.

DUNE follows the son of a noble family that is entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. Villeneuve has gathered an impressive ensemble cast for the film including Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.