With Denis Villeneuve's Dune trilogy gearing up for its grand finale this December, fans are diving back into the desert sands of Arrakis. But before you rewatch the modern epics or David Lynch's 1984 cult classic, there's another chapter of Dune history that deserves your attention—a legendary, never-made adaptation that nearly changed cinema forever.
That story is told in Jodorowsky's Dune, a 2013 documentary that chronicles filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's obsessive, decade-long quest to bring Frank Herbert's novel to the big screen in the 1970s. The film, which holds a rare 97% "Certified Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes, is set to join HBO Max's library on November 1, 2026—just in time to get you hyped for Dune: Part Three.
The Dream Team That Almost Was
Jodorowsky, known for surreal arthouse films like El Topo and The Holy Mountain, assembled an eclectic group of collaborators that reads like a fever dream. Comic book legend Jean Giraud (better known as Moebius) and H.R. Giger—whose biomechanical designs would later define Alien—were brought on to craft a visual bible of storyboards that became the stuff of Hollywood legend.
The cast was equally outrageous: Salvador Dalí, Orson Welles, Mick Jagger, and Gloria Swanson were all attached, and Pink Floyd was set to provide the score. Jodorowsky even planned to cast his own 12-year-old son, Brontis, as Paul Atreides—the role eventually played by Kyle MacLachlan and Timothée Chalamet.
Why It Never Happened
Despite the sheer ambition and creativity, the project collapsed under its own weight. Budgetary constraints and the sheer scale—Jodorowsky envisioned a 14-hour epic—proved insurmountable. The film was never made, but its influence rippled through sci-fi for decades, inspiring everyone from George Lucas to Ridley Scott.
The documentary captures both the brilliance and the tragedy of that lost vision. As Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus puts it: "Part thoughtful tribute, part bittersweet reminder of a missed opportunity, Jodorowsky's Dune offers a fascinating look at a lost sci-fi legend."
Your Perfect Dune Marathon
If you're planning a Dune marathon before Part Three hits theaters alongside Avengers: Doomsday in December, this documentary is the essential missing piece. It's a reminder that even the most ambitious dreams can shape the future, even when they never come to pass.
For more on the legacy of sci-fi's greatest what-ifs, check out how these sci-fi classics became the genre's ultimate blueprint. And if you're in the mood for more streaming gems, Lone Survivor lands on Peacock in 2026 and Tom Cruise's Oblivion lands on Starz this November.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for all your Dune coverage and more.
