Some characters should have been merged for the movie adaptation

Considering the longstanding belief that Dune is 'unfilmable,' Villeneuve could have taken a more streamlined approach. One effective strategy would have been to merge multiple characters into single roles, thus saving space, maintaining audience engagement, and trimming the running time. While the novel affords the luxury of intricate character detail, a film requires efficiency.

For instance, did we truly need separate characters for Gurney Halleck and Duncan Idaho? In practice, they could have been amalgamated into a singular mentor figure for Paul. This consolidation would have heightened the impact of Duncan's demise and emphasized Paul's journey of self-discovery. Let's be honest, Gurney didn't have much to do in the sequel.

Similarly, merging characters like Margot Fenring and Princess Irulan, both trained by the Bene Gesserit, would have streamlined the plot. Stilgar and Jamis, serving primarily as guides for Paul on Arrakis, could have been replaced by a strengthened role for Chani, providing her with more agency and depth.

Perhaps most notably, the inclusion of Raban alongside Feyd seems redundant. Since it's Feyd who ultimately confronts Paul, Raban's presence feels unnecessary and could have been omitted to streamline the storyline.

Even characters like Thufir Hawat could have been handled more efficiently. While he serves as a mentor figure in the book, Villeneuve missed an opportunity to fully utilize his character in the film adaptation. After all, Villeneuve already introduces the evil character of Piter de Vries, who plays a significant role in advancing the plot and could have effectively introduced the audience to the concept of a mentat on his own. I cannot escape the feeling, therefore, that in Villeneuve's movies, Hawat is superfluous.

Ultimately, Villeneuve's adherence to the source material may have hindered the films' creative freedom. While it's important to respect the source material, some flexibility is necessary for successful adaptation. Lynch's alteration of the Weirding Way in the 1984 film, while controversial, exemplifies the type of creative license that can enhance a movie adaptation. In summary, a more judicious approach to condensing the literary source material could have benefited Villeneuve's Dune adaptation.