The Lord of the Rings inspired Dune director Denis Villeneuve to stay true to the source material for his film

Dune director Denis Villeneuve has revealed that he took inspiration from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy to stay true to the source material for his own films.

“I did my best to stay close to the spirit and to stay close aesthetically to something that I had in mind when I read the book,” Villeneuve said in a new interview with Vanity Fair“I remember when I saw Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, I felt so much respect for the book, so much love for the book. Of course, it’s my adaptation, it’s my vision of the book, but people will feel an energy, a spirit that’s close to what Frank Herbert did. So if that can get more people to read the book, that would be great. At the end of the day, that’s the goal.”

2021’s Dune and 2024’s Dune: Part II formed a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel. There are a few key elements differences between the book and the moviesbut that’s what you’d expect with any adaptation – especially one of a massive book like Dune.

Later in the same interview, Villeneuve confirmed that he was writing Dune Messiah, based on Herbert’s second book. “If I do a third one, which is currently being written, it won’t be like a trilogy. It’s strange to say this, but if I go back, it’s to do something different and that has its own identity,” he said.

Dune Messiah doesn’t have a release date yet. While we wait for more information, check out our guide to other big upcoming movies.