When it comes to epic, sprawling space operas, nothing quite comes close to Star Wars, which has been in the forefront of pop culture since the '70s. There's plenty of competition from the likes of Star Trek, Marvel and more. And the new sci-fi epic on the block, Dune, is giving the galaxy far, far away a run for its money...at least according to one of its stars.
Based on the classic novels by Frank Herbert (which actually predate Star Wars), the Dune movies have been immensely successful. Dune: Part One grossed $407.5 million at the box office, while Dune: Part II boasted a significantly larger $711.8 million. That's right: Dune is now a billion-dollar franchise. Moreover, the series is expanding its horizons to television, with Dune: Prophecy out on Max later this year.
Given how popular Dune is at the moment, star Rebecca Ferguson (Lady Jessica) has issued a bold statement, explaining why she thinks Dune has potential to be as big as Star Wars. "It’s a universe. It’s kind of what Star Wars was when it happened. I don’t want to jinx it, but there’s a lot that can be done here," she told Collider. "This is a world. It’s a sexy world, and it’s dangerous, and it has different cultures and life and visions, and Patrice , who is the designer, and the costumes. I mean, it’s a spectacle in every aspect. It’s just phenomenal."
"I think for me, because I had watched Dune, and I was doing interviews ... I remember sitting there going, 'I just want people to see it. 'I heard myself say, 'If you think Dune is good, wait until you see Dune 2.' I remember thinking, 'I really mean it.' I mean, the challenges, the angles, the storyline, the music, the scope, the Harkonnens, the graphics, it’s all there. It’s a masterpiece."
Of course, there will doubtless be more Dune movies. Dune: Part Two ended on a rather significant cliffhanger where the Great Houses rejected Paul Atreides' ascendancy as the new emperor. The war is far from over. Dune: Part Three is officially on the way, but don't expect it anytime soon. At least we've got Dune: Prophecy out later this year to bridge the gap. Check out the teaser, it looks really good:
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.