David Lynch's Lost, Unfinished Draft of DUNE 2 Has Been Found
As we’re all waiting to experience Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two, which hits theaters this year, David Lynch’s plans for his Dune sequel, Dune Messiah, have come to light. The filmmaker’s unfinished draft of the script for the film, which was lost, has now been found, and it sheds some light on Lynch's unique vision for the Dune universe.
Last year, Max Evry, the author of A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch's Dune - An Oral History, made a crazy discovery. He stumbled upon an unfinished draft of Lynch's Dune Messiah in the archives at California State University, Fullerton. As you might imagine, the find has sparked excitement among Dune fans and cinephiles alike, as it provides a fascinating glimpse into what could have been.
One of the most interesting aspects of Lynch's script is how it diverges from Frank Herbert's original sequel novel. Lynch's script opens with a fresh set of scenes, starting in the aftermath of the Harkonnen's attack on Arrakeen, where Duncan Idaho, portrayed by Richard Jordan, meets his demise. This departure from the source material immediately sets the stage for a unique cinematic experience.
In Lynch's vision, the enigmatic doctor from the first film, portrayed by Leonardo Cimino, is revealed to be none other than Scytale, a "face-dancer" of the Bene Tleilax. Scytale takes Duncan Idaho's lifeless body amidst the chaos of the Harkonnen assault, leading to a surreal and Lynchian exploration of Scytale's resurrection of Idaho as the clone "Ghola" Hayt. This journey takes us into the heart of the Bene Tleilax's homeworld, a place filled with eccentricities and surrealism. The opening of the film is described as follows:
“Scytale’s friends are laughing and wildly rolling marbles under their hands as they watch Scytale sing through eighteen mouths in eighteen heads strung together with flesh that is like a flabby hose. The heads are singing all over the pink room. One man opens his mouth and a swarm of tiny people stream out singing accompaniment to Scytale. Another man releases a floating dog which explodes in mid-air causing everyone to get small and lost in the fibers of the beautiful carpet. Though small they all continue to laugh, a laughter which is now extremely high in pitch. Scytale (now with only one head) crawls up a wall laughing hysterically.'“
This vivid description encapsulates the quintessential Lynchian experience. Lynch's script also sets the stage for the complex political machinations surrounding Paul, now known as Maud'Dib, and his rule of Arrakis. However, the draft leaves us hanging just as Lynch would have delved into Paul's ascension to power.
Interestingly, Lynch declined to comment. As you know, he views his work on his Dune film as a failure and prefers not to dwell on it. Despite this, the script discovery offers fans a unique opportunity to appreciate Lynch's creative genius in a new light.
You can read all of the interesting details on this script at Wired.