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Character comparisons: Dune 1984 vs Dune 2020

By Dan Selcke

(L-r) TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET as Paul Atreides and REBECCA FERGUSON as Lady Jessica Atreides in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “DUNE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, Chiabella James
(L-r) TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET as Paul Atreides and REBECCA FERGUSON as Lady Jessica Atreides in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “DUNE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, Chiabella James /
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Dr. Liet Kynes: Max von Sydow vs Sharon Duncan-Brewster

This is Dr. Liet Kynes, a leader of the Fremen, the native people of Arrakis. Kynes is also a planetary ecologist, and has a dream to one day terraform Dune into a verdant eden with running water and lush forests.

Kynes was played by Max von Sydow in Dune 1984 and Sharon Duncan-Brewster in Dune 2020. This is the biggest casting change, since Kynes is written as a guy in the book but is now played by a woman. “What Denis had stated to me was there was a lack of female characters in his cast, and he had always been very feminist, pro-women, and wanted to write the role for a woman,” Duncan-Brewster told Vanity Fair. “This human being manages to basically keep the peace amongst many people. Women are very good at that, so why can’t Kynes be a woman? Why shouldn’t Kynes be a woman?”

Kynes isn’t an especially gendered role, so this is cool by me. Sartorially, we once again see the difference in stillsuit design, although I give Dune 2020 points for the flowing tattered shawl. Never leave home without one.

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