Dune titled on-screen as Dune: Part One is a American epic space opera film directed and co-produced by Denis Villeneuve , who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts , and Eric Roth. It is the first of a two-part adaptation of the novel by Frank Herbert. Set in the distant future, the film follows Paul Atreides as his family, the noble House Atreides , is thrust into a war for the deadly and inhospitable desert planet Arrakis.
The film is the third adaptation of Dune , following David Lynch 's film and John Harrison 's television miniseries. After an unsuccessful attempt by Paramount Pictures to produce a new adaptation, Legendary Pictures acquired the Dune film and television rights in , with Villeneuve signing on as director in February Production contracts were secured only for the first film, relying on its success before a sequel would be produced.
The film premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, , before its international release on September 15, ; it was then released in United States theaters and streaming on HBO Max on October 22, It was well received by critics and audiences with praise for Villeneuve's direction, screenplay, the performances of the cast, production values, costumes, Hans Zimmer 's musical score, visual effects, cinematography, and retaining core elements from the source material.
The film won six awards at the 94th Academy Awards and was nominated in four other categories; it received numerous other accolades. A sequel, Dune: Part Two , was released on March 1, , with another sequel based on Herbert's novel Dune Messiah in development.
In the distant future, Duke Leto Atreides is assigned by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV to replace Baron Vladimir Harkonnen as the fiefholder of Arrakis , a harsh desert planet and the sole source of " spice ", a valuable psychotropic substance that imparts heightened vitality and awareness.
