George R.R. Martin Discusses Dune and Frank Herbert

Adaptations are a tricky thing. Balancing loyalty to the source material and artistic freedom is never easy, and when you have hoards of fans waiting to dissect everything on screen and compare it to the image they had in their mind, it's hard for an adaptation to live up to expectations. We spoke with George R.R. Martin for an exclusive conversation before the world premiere of In the Lost Lands and asked him about his adaptations and what he wanted to see on screen. During the discussion, Martin also reflected on the Dune adaptations and discussed Frank Herbert's potential reaction to the recent films by Denis Villeneuve.

'Dune' Has Not Had an Easy Road When It Comes to Adaptations

Both George R.R. Martin and Frank Herbert have seen their words put on the screen in adaptations, however, while Martin has been more openly critical of these adaptations, Herbert remained relatively supportive of the 1984 version of Dune directed by David Lynch and starring Kyle MacLachlan. However, it's hard to deny that Lynch's film lives in the shadow of Denis Villeneuve's 2021 interpretation, with Timothée Chalamet as the lead.

During the interview, Martin mentioned that he wanted to see his novel Fevre Dream adapted. He also admitted that there were potential issues that might hinder it getting made, especially as it is a historical horror novel about vampires on a steamboat set in the 1850s. However, Martin maintained that, as long as the source exists, the stories can still be told. "But Frank Herbert probably didn't think Dune would ever be made. Well, they made it, but you know what happened there," Martin said, implying the 1984 film's mixed reception. "If Frank had lived long enough and seen what they're doing now, that would be great, but he's gone."

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