Question: Did George Lucas rip off Dune?Miles Phillips explores Dune's Legacy and its echo in Star Wars, claiming that the former is among the best science fiction films he's seen.
by The South African
18-03-2024 15:35
in Entertainment
Miles Phillips explores Dune's Legacy and its echo in Star Wars, claiming that the former is among the best science fiction films he's seen. Image: Flickr Wikimedia Commons
Miles Phillips explores the sands of influence : Dune's Legacy and its echo in Star Wars claiming that the former is one of the best of science fiction films he's seen in a long time.
--
The words epic probably fall slightly short as watching it on the big screen really immerses you in the sandy world of giant worms and breathing tubes!
This new film, Dune: Part Two, is the latest big-screen extract from Frank Herbert's Dune.
First published in 1965, this seminal novel not only established a benchmark for the genre but also sowed the seeds of inspiration for countless narratives to follow.
--
Among these, George Lucas's Star Wars saga is often cited as drawing considerable influence from Herbert's desert world of Arrakis.
As Dune once again captures the imagination of audiences with its 2020 film adaptation, divided into two epic parts, it did make me think all too often that I was watching a rip off of Star Wars.
But on looking it up, Dune was published 10 year prior to Star Wars, so did George step into the darkside and copy Dune?
--
From Novel to Film Epic: The Journey of Dune Before diving into the parallels between Dune and Star Wars, it's essential to acknowledge Dune's journey from a novel to a cinematic epic. Frank Herbert's Dune is not just a story; it's an intricate universe detailed with complex social, political, and ecological themes. It's a tale of power, prophecy, and survival set against the backdrop of a desert planet whose sole valuable resource, the spice Melange, is the linchpin of interstellar travel and power dynamics.
The novel's richness and depth made it a challenging prospect for adaptation, yet it has seen several iterations, including David Lynch's 1984 film and a miniseries in 2000. However, it wasn't until 2020 that Dune found a new life in the hands of director Denis Villeneuve. His adaptation, planned in two parts to do justice to the novel's breadth, has been praised for its visual grandeur and faithful rendition of the source material.
Let's break it down and look at the major similarities, and you can make your own minds up.
Dune and Star Wars: A Desert of Similarities The comparisons between Dune and Star Wars are manifold and intriguing. Both narratives unfold in vast, interstellar settings and revolve around young protagonists destined for greatness, embroiled in the larger conflict of good versus evil. However, the similarities extend beyond these broad strokes into more specific parallels.
The Battle of Good vs. Evil At their core, both Dune and Star Wars explore the eternal conflict between good and evil. In Dune, Paul Atreides battles against the corrupt forces that seek to control the spice production on Arrakis. In Star Wars, Luke Skywalker rises against the tyranny of the Empire. Both protagonists are driven by a sense of destiny and a need to restore balance and justice.
The Force vs. The Voice The concept of a mystical power that can be harnessed by a select few is central to both universes. In Star Wars, the Force is an energy field created by all living things, used by the Jedi and the Sith to perform feats beyond the bounds of physical possibility. Dune presents a similar concept through the Voice, a power that allows its users to control others through tone and command. The Bene Gesserit, a secretive sisterhood to which Paul's mother belongs, are masters of this technique.
Spice and the Economy of Power Spice Melange, the most precious resource in the Dune universe, is crucial for space travel, extending life, and enhancing mental abilities. It draws a parallel to the importance of resources in Star Wars, albeit less directly. The struggle for control over resources, whether it's spice in Dune or planets and systems in Star Wars, underscores the economic underpinnings of power in both narratives.
But we have seen Spice feature more prominently in the spin-off series of Boba Fett and the Mandalorian.
The Desert as Character Arrakis, or Dune, is a desert planet whose harsh environment shapes its inhabitants and the story's dynamics. Similarly, Star Wars introduces us to Tatooine, Luke Skywalker's home planet, also a desert world with its own sand people, the Tusken Raiders. These desert settings are not mere backdrops but active elements that influence the plot and character development.
Echoes and Inspirations: The Debate Given these similarities, the question arises: did George Lucas rip off Dune to create Star Wars? While it's clear that Star Wars shares thematic and narrative elements with Dune, it's also evident that Lucas drew inspiration from a wide array of sources, including mythology, samurai films, and Flash Gordon serials. Rather than viewing Star Wars as a derivative work, it can be seen as part of a dialogue among science fiction and fantasy narratives, each borrowing, adapting, and reimagining elements from its predecessors to create something new and unique.
Concluding thoughts The second part of Dune, is a real feast for the eyes and ears. Watching it on the big screen is a must. I know that part two was the concluding part, but for me, it's only just starting, and I hear rumours that Denis Villeneuve has started writing, so watch this space for part 3.
Miles Phillips runs Miles Marketing, an international marketing agency focusing on marketing strategy and delivering sensible
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
New Adobe Premiere Color Grading Mode Accelerated on NVIDIA GPUs
Joel Pennington May 13, 2026
0 Comments
New NVIDIA RTX-accelerated features streamlin...
13/05/2026
Grass Valley announced that dB Broadcast has delivered new IP-based outside broadcast (OB) trucks for Cloudbass, featuring Grass Valley LDX 100 Series cameras a...
13/05/2026
Ikegami will exhibit the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast production cameras, control units, viewfinders and monitors on stand 5D3-1 at Broadcast...
13/05/2026
FISE, working with the founding members of the XR Sports Alliance (XRSA), Accedo, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and HBS, have collaborated to develop an immersive...
13/05/2026
Canon Unveils New EOS R6 V Full-Frame EOS Camera and RF20-50mm F4 L IS USM PZ Bu...
13/05/2026
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Honors Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton at Comme...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
13/05/2026
Agentic AI is changing the way users get work done. Following the success of OpenClaw, the community is embracing new open source agentic frameworks. The latest...
13/05/2026
Reinforcement-learning agents - AI systems that learn by trial and error - can c...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
Question: Did George Lucas rip off Dune?Miles Phillips explores Dune's Legacy and its echo in Star Wars, claiming that the former is among the best science fiction films he's seen.
