Dune Movie Filming Locations: Real-Life Spots For Outer Space Planets

GreekFire

Newbie
Sep 18, 2021
302
4
28
Rating - 100%
19   0   0
Dune brings the worlds of Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic to life, using real locations from across multiple continents. The extreme environment of Arakkis was shot in real deserts that are almost as hostile, while the forest planet of Caladan was represented by beautiful Scandinavian cliffs. These real-world outer space planets right here on Earth formed the perfect backdrop for director Denis Villeneuve's breathtaking film.

The 2021 Dune features a stacked cast including Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, and Jason Momoa. Chalamet stars as Paul, the heir to the powerful House Atreides, who travels to the hostile but resource-rich world of Arakkis after his family gains control of it. While there, he is caught up in a geopolitical struggle and forced to learn how to survive in the desert sands. Paul must also master the psychic arts of the Bene Gesserit, a secretive order to which his mother Lady Jessica belongs, and emerge as a prophesied hero.

The Dune series takes place across an intergalactic empire in the year 10191. Using awe-inspiring real-world locations was crucial for capturing the breadth of Dune's universe. These locations may be on Earth, but their stark environments make them suitable for depicting imaginative new worlds—many of which have turned up in other major science-fiction franchise. While many movies today use CGI for entire backdrops, Dune's use of real-world locations gives it a sense of scope and verisimilitude that has drawn critical praise.

Hollywood has been attempting to tackle the novel Dune for decades. David Lynch directed an adaptation in 1984 that was rejected by fans and theatergoers, whereas Alejandro Jodorowsky's legendary attempted film of the movie never got off the ground. A 2000 miniseries adaptation was highly-rated but received mixed critical reception. Denis Villeneuve, director of Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival, was hired in 2017 to direct a new adaptation, intended to stretch across two films. Using memorable backdrops and cinematography is intended to set the new Dune adaptation apart from past efforts.

Liwa Oasis, Abu Dhabi

The Liwa Oasis was one of the primary shooting locations used in Dune, as the region's scorching deserts were the perfect setting for the planet of Arrakis, where most of the film's action takes place. The scenes depicting Paul and Lady Jessica's brutal walk across the sandworm-infested desert after being forced out of their home by House Harkonnen were more than likely shot in this location. The real-life desert is known to be nearly as forbidding as its on-screen counterpart, as filming had to be stopped on occasion due to heat above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Liwa Oasis is located in the United Arab Emirates, known for its beauty and traditionally associated with the ruling classes of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Lucasfilms used the nearby Rub' Al Khali desert for Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Force Awakens, with the sandy backdrop representing the desert planet of Jakku—appropriate given Dune's immeasurable influence on the Star Wars franchise. The Sonic the Hedgehog live-action movie also filmed its desert scenes in the Liwa Oasis.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

While the Liwa Oasis was used for most of the vast, sweeping desert scenes on the planet Arrakis, scenes were also shot at Wadi Rum in Jordan and can be identified through the area's signature red rock formations. Locations such as the Atreides' home base and the rocky paths where Paul faces off against Jamis in ritual combat were more than likely filmed here. The area's real-world history fits in perfectly with Dune's themes about colonialism and resource exploitation, with Herbert basing much of the Fremen society on Arabic culture.

The word "Wadi" refers to a valley or dry riverbed. Wadi Rum is the largest such area in Jordan and is also known as the Valley of the Moon. This location has been used for Hollywood movies for decades, including David Lean's famous epic Lawrence of Arabia, which many of the positive reviews of Villeneuve's Dune have drawn comparisons to. It was also where the real-life T. E. Lawrence helped to lead the Arab Revolt. Other movies filmed in Wadi Rum include The Martian and the live-action version of Disney's Aladdin.

Stadlandet, Norway

The early parts of the film are set on Caladan, another planet in Dune's vast Imperium. This forest planet is the home world of House Atreides, headed by Oscar Isaac's Duke Leto Atreides. Leto mentions his familial clan conquering and controlling the planet through air and sea power. The green forests of Caladan create a strong contrast with the red sands of Arrakis, showing how out of their element the Atreides are on their new planet.

The Caladan scenes were shot in Standladnet, Norway and were crucial in depicting the contrast between the film's different settings, and by extension their various rulers. Standlandet is a peninsula in Norway's Vestland which sits 1600 feet above sea level. Above the mountain plateau is Tarvaldsegga Peak, a 2116-foot peak with a cliff that drops over a thousand feet down into the North Sea. The area is known as Stad by locals and is renowned for its scenic vistas.

Origo Film Studios, Hungary

Dune also used Origo Film Studios in Hungary for most of its studio filming. The complex world of Dune involves plenty of political intrigue as imperial Houses battle among each other for the all-important spice, in addition to psychic training that reflects broader philosophical themes. These plots are depicted in a number of interior scenes in settings ranging from the House Atreides spaceship to the secretive lair of House Harkonnen. Many of these internal scenes were likely shot at Origo, where a real-world backdrop wasn't required.

Origo Film Studios is a fully-equipped movie production studio located in Budapest, Hungary. Denis Villeneuve previously used the studio during his filming of Blade Runner 2049, and it has also been used for Hollywood movies like 47 Ronin and Terminator: Dark Fate. Hungary and other Eastern European countries have become popular filming locations for American productions because of relatively low shooting costs.

While Villeneuve's take on Dune has been well-received thus far, the film only adapts half of Frank Herbert's book, and as of yet Dune Part 2 has not been confirmed. Should the series continue, there's plenty of material to adapt, including several sequels written by Herbert. Future movies could take audiences to locations ranging from the Harkonnens' dark homeworld to the center of the galactic empire. The Dune franchise could create many more memorable locations in years to come.