Breaking Down the Spice, Worms, and Pain Boxes inDune‘s First Trailer

It’sfinally here . We ’ve been wait months to see a ( moving ) reckon atDenis Villeneuve’slong - wait version of Frank Herbert ’s classic sci - fi novelDune . The first appearance trailer showed a beautiful but grave world on the brink of destruction and gives several trace that you may have missed on first viewing . Allow us to dig a little deep .

https://gizmodo.com/dunes-first-trailer-is-a-beautiful-unstoppable-journey-1842845191

The trailer opens on a ending - up of Paul Atreides , the protagonist of Dune , squinting at something in the length . Played by Timothée Chalamet , Paul is the only son of Lady Jessica ( Rebecca Ferguson ) , a member of the Bene Gesserit fiat , and Duke Leto Atreides ( Oscar Isaac ) . Not only is he set to inherit his family ’s wealthy empire , he ’s also spent age training with his mother in the Bene Gesserit ways of body and head ascendency .

Chani (Zendaya) represents a world aflame in the first Dune trailer.

Chani (Zendaya) represents a world aflame in the first Dune trailer.Image: Warner Bros.

https://gizmodo.com/a-guide-to-dune-s-gargantuan-cast-of-characters-1842923126

It ’s no surprisal his first words in the trailer are : “ Something is happening to me . There ’s something arouse in my creative thinker , I ca n’t control it , ” as the story is about him wake up into his forcible and metaphysical world power .

We then see the stress of Paul ’s vision : Chani ( Zendaya ) , a Fremen warrior who appear as an ethereal name welcome the desert Sunday . Her eyes are promising blue because of her longtime picture to hotchpotch , a rarefied spice that grows on her home major planet of Arrakis .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

“ There ’s a drive come . ” The vision of Chani is authoritative , but it ’s not the only visual sensation of the hereafter he ’s talking about here . There ’s also Paul ’s admonition of a future “ effort , ” though he never explains what that think of .

call it a crusade is a very interesting alternative , and probably intentional . The book contains several reference to spherical conquests call “ jihads”—whether it ’s international jihad that happen in the distant past or a future connected to Paul , Arrakis , and the destiny of the creation . The word can easily inspire racist intension in 2020 so it make sense that it would be trade out . But the use of effort feel touching , with its connection to colonialism , white mastery , and the forcible spread of spiritual ideology across great distance . give the role Paul plays in this story and world , it does n’t seem like a coincidence .

We then edit out to a injection of two people in the shadows — likely Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica , based on the hair and outfits — as they bet over a prospect of immense harm and topsy-turvyness . This could be the “ crusade ” that Paul is worried about , or it could be a foretoken of even darker things to come .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

“ The test is simple . ” Paul Atreides subjects himself to the nuisance box , a test that the Bene Gesserit use to determine which multitude have surface above their basis animal instincts to become “ genuinely human . ” The idea is that a less creature would “ gnaw off his own ramification to survive , ” intend they would choose instinct over self - control and discipline . Reverend Mother Gaius Mohiam , the loss leader of the Bene Gesserit , points a venomous acerate leaf called a gom jabbar at Paul ’s throat and orders him to endure the pain inside the box or she will belt down him . ground on his screams , that ’s somewhat unvoiced to do !

“ You ’ve inherited too much power . ” We get a glimpse of Paul on his home satellite of Caladan as he ’s take quick to leave for Arrakis . Caladan is a deep , lush planet with fate of rain and vast oceans . In many ways , it ’s the opposite of Arrakis , representing how much this relocation will change the eternal rest of his lifetime .

Paul railroad train with Gurney Halleck ( Josh Brolin ) , a chief officer for Duke Atreides and Paul ’s arm instructor . He ’s deal one of the good fighters in the universe and prepare the young humanity in hand - to - hand combat techniques . Most mass also wear personal justificative shields , which you could see being activated in this shot , and battles are often conducted with knives , swords , and other melée artillery . Guns are rarely used in the macrocosm of Dune because of the aforesaid shell . However , it ’s authoritative to note that shield can not be used in the deserts of Arrakis because they attract certain wight .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

“ You ’ve test you may rule yourself , now you must learn to rein others . ” This message presumably comes after Paul has endured the box seat test , which means the Reverend Mother believes he can lead other the great unwashed . However , her words come with a warning , saying that the art of ruling others is something “ none of your ancestors watch . ” That ’s when we get our first glimpse at Duke Leto , Paul ’s founder .

Duke Leto is glancing at an ancient Grecian tablet showing a homo and a copper , possibly fix for a sacrifice . House Atreides has long claimed its origins go out back to ancient Greece , specifically the Greek mythological shape King Agamemnon ( a son of King Atreus , hence the name ) . By drawing a sour parallel between then and now , we ’re seeing that House Atreides has been , and may continue to be , on unfirm ground .

take down : A wonderful commenter cue me that Duke Leto ’s father was killed by a drugged Salusan crap during a bull - fight down event ( something his female parent made come about ) . This mean he ’s likely visit the grave of his father .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

More shots of Caladan , return off some Game of Thrones vibes along with clearly Hellenic pattern .

As the Reverend Mother warns Paul that he will recede Arrakis just as he ’s losing Caladan , we ’re inaugurate to Lady Jessica , being comforted by Duke Leto as they prepare to leave . We note Lady Jessica is a member of the Bene Gesserit order , they are a society of adult female who ’ve spend generation cumulate power throughout the universe . But what ’s also true is that Lady Jessica herself is a huge player in the events of Dune , with her choices touch on the future tense of the entire universe . In these pellet , she ’s the bridge between Caladan and Arrakis , as we see her transition from her former home to her new one . This steer at the vital part she fiddle in the tale , as the span between Paul ’s two mankind . deplorably , we do n’t hear her actually speak in the trailer , though .

A haunting rendition of Pink Floyd ’s “ Eclipse , ” from composer Hans Zimmer , start to diddle while House Atreides arrives on Arrakis and is welcomed by the soldier already stationed there — include a warm , friendly clinch from Duncan Idaho ( Jason Momoa ) , who was get off in advance to scout the planet . We also get a glimpse of House Atreides ’ Mentat , Thufir Hawat ( Stephen McKinley Henderson ) . He ’s the guy with the fancy umbrella . We ’ve explained Mentats further down .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

A abbreviated glimpse of Stilgar ( Javier Bardem ) , a Naib ( or leader ) of one of the Fremen tribes , as he takes off his mask in the center of the desert . He ’s wearing a stillsuit , the standard outfit created for survival on Arrakis . It extracts water from the consistency ( including sudor , respiratory droplets , and urine ) , filters it , and stores it in a pouch so it can be consumed later .

We last see the famous Baron Harkonnen ( Stellan Skarsgård)—the main baddie of this story — distinguish his brutish nephew Glossu ( Dave Bautista ) to “ kill them . ” Baron Harkonnen is an evil genius who ’s as cunning as he is gluttonous . It ’s undecipherable where he is during this present moment : He ’s likely on his dwelling house planet of Giedi Prime , but he could be on Arrakis , based on the architecture behind Glossu .

Glossu ’s role looks to have been expanded for the film . Much of his oeuvre in the book tend to happen “ offscreen , ” but here ’s he ’s at the vanguard of the fighting on Arrakis . With a monolithic army of soldiers at his mastery . Plus , if you take a near looking at at the army , you might recognise a figure in the back — that ’s likely the Baron himself , on the suspensors ( floating harnesses ) he uses to get around .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

We immediately cut to Glossu unleashing his weapon as a mathematical group of soldiers abut on Arrakis , surrounded by incinerate trees . A war has begun .

“ They ’re pick my family off one by one . ” Duncan Idaho gets ready to push back against the invasion , keen on have them agitate “ like demons . ” Some of this fight is in his stillsuit and some is in normal dress , so I ’m guessing it ’s two unlike battles .

Paul receive Chani for the first time , out in the desert . He recognise her from his dream , but the stern expression on her face here show she ’s much more than the preternatural imaginativeness he ’s been woolgather about .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

More of the attack on Arrakis . None of the fighters , including Gurney , are in fight gear , which indicates it occupy them by surprise .

Nothing much to say about this , other than I in full expect unearthly Baron Harkonnen vibes in this movie .

Duncan and Paul apportion a salute , though these shots depend to be taking place at two unlike time . Paul is wielding a crysknife , which is a sword made from the tooth of a dead sandworm , the weapon system of pick for the Fremen ; they are sacred and forbid to those outside of the kin group .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

https://gizmodo.com/a-guide-to-dune-s-strange-and-intense-religions-1843460283

It ’s significant to take note that during this moment , the Reverend Mother is telling Paul Atreides about a “ fable ” who must one day be bear , as all of civilization will depend on him . This is in reference to the Kwisatz Haderach , a long - prophesied hero sandwich who would rise up and rule the universe . The fable as well as the Bene Gesserit ’s role in gain him a realism , would take too long to explain : I ’ve written out an explanation of the prognostication , which you could check outhere .

Oh hey , it ’s one of those tool … devouring an total ship . This is our first moving look at a sandworm of Arrakis , and it look mighty imposing .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

We get shots of Dr. Wellington Yeuh ( Chang Chen ) with some of Baron Harkonnen ’s soldier , as well as Chani ’s mother and Arrakis planetologist Liet Kynes ( Sharon Duncan Brewster ) at the castle on Arrakis .

We enchant a brief ( albeit fuzzy ) glimpse at ornithropters , whirlybird - like machines that are commonly used for change of location . You might notice the name get along from ornithology , or the study of birds , and that it looks like a dragonfly . That ’s because thousands of years before the events of Dune , the galax unilaterally rejected contrived news technology — shunning anything that could replace the intelligence or capabilities of a person . There are no A.I. computing machine in the earth of Dune and everyone relies on people call Mentats prepare to do as “ human computational devices . ” In addition , many twist and transports are modeled after organic life , or as unaired to it as can be reach .

Duke Leto Atreides in short comforts someone as they lay dying , leave a bloody handprint on his shirt . He looks implicated and disjointed , which is kind of the mode du jour for most of House Atreides during the flak .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

“ The future , I can see it . ” Paul is revealing to Stilgar that there ’s something powerful inside of him , even if others like Reverend Mother may or may not conceive he ’s the Kwisatz Haderach who ’s been prophesy . This revealing comes as he prepare to fight someone in the desert using the crysknife . It looks like the Fremen warrior Jamis ( Babs Olusanmokun ) , who oppose Paul coming into the tribe .

“ I must not revere . ” Paul screams as something unknown overpowers him , then we see Paul and Lady Jessica take an ornithopter into a dust storm . The two of them spend much of the tale together , last the desert while trying to find the Fremen . Through all of this , Lady Jessica go along to discipline Paul in the Bene Gesserit ways of controlling one ’s body , mind , and voice , reject care in all of its forms to maintain a sense of order in the pandemonium .

“ Fear is the mind - killer . ” Paul reminds us of his Bene Gesserit training as he reaches down into the sand , fall upon what this whole storey it ’s all about — the Spice . In the world of Dune , the spiciness known as “ melange ” is a required element for interstellar travelling . Fish - comparable brute called Guild Navigators use the spice to “ see ” their means through the extragalactic nebula , maneuver ship from one destination to another . The only stead the spiciness can be found is on Arrakis , making the desert planet the most valuable slur in the cosmos .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

“ My lord duke , ” Duncan Idaho addresses Paul in a new direction , as Paul look on with a tranquil authority that check he realize everything this means .

“ When the concern is gone , only I will stay . ” Just as Paul was embraced by Duncan Idaho , we also see Paul , with a blooming nose , being espouse by the Fremen . This evince his rise in power with House Atreides and the Fremen , as Paul becomes a force out to be reckon with on Arrakis .

We shut on Paul and someone else , most likely Lady Jessica ( based on the shawl ) , go away from a giant sandworm alone in the desert . But then , something happens .

Gif: Warner Bros.

Gif: Warner Bros.

The louse stops . This is a big freaking deal . The sandworms of Arrakis are adept killer whale , sweeping the sands in search of anyone making a sound . They also have a powerful association to Arrakis that gets explained further along in the taradiddle . To have the sandworm stop to stare upon anyone is , well , head - blowing . Even a tool like this knows something ’s unlike about Paul Atreides . shortly , the rest of the man will get laid too .

Dune arrives in theatre on December 18 .

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Gif: Warner Bros.