Dune is due to release on December 18, 2020, giving audiences a new take on Frank Herbert's novel, first adapted by David Lynch in 1984. Director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Blade Runner 2049, Arrival) has spoken to Empire about his upcoming adaptation, and given some new insights into what inspired his take on Paul Atreides, the film's protagonist.

Atreides will be played by Timothee Chalamet in the new film, as seen in the first screenshots. According to Villeneuve, he sees the character's arc as similar to the central figure of the Godfather trilogy, Michael Corleone. Villeneuve says that the character is similar to Corleone, who was portrayed by Al Pacino across three films, because of the expectations placed upon him.

"Paul has been raised in a very strict environment with a lot of training, because he's the son of a Duke," Villeneuve says, recounting details from the novel. "But as much as he's been prepared and trained for that role, is it really what he dreams to be? That's the contradiction of that character. It's like Michael Corleone in The Godfather--it's someone that has a very tragic fate and he will become something that he was not wishing to become," he continues.