Villeneuve Reveals The Deleted Book Scene From Dune: Part One

In a roundtable interview with Slashfilm, director Denis Villeneuve revealed the one scene from Frank Herbert’s book that he couldn’t include in the movie.

Movie adaptations for a book, especially one which is fan-favorite and revered, is not an easy task. More so, if it is the complex and highly detailed world of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel, Dune.

The hype around Villeneuve’s version of Dune is gaining traction, with fans setting up expectations for the movie. It might also be because of the first look teasers and the incredible talent of the cast – Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Mamoa, and more. Not to forget the cinematic experience and outstanding VFX that Villeneuve’s version includes.

With the highly-anticipated Dune hitting the theaters and HBO Max, interviews are bound to be held, and certain secrets (and opinions) bound to be revealed.

One of the secrets is Villeneuve calling a moment from the book he couldn’t add in his movie, ‘painful.’ According to his interview with Slashfilm, he did reveal that it is shot and most definitely ‘exists,’ just not in Dune: Part One.

So what is it? It is a famous yet mysterious baliset scene. Baliset is a musical instrument similar to a zither or a lute, but Herbert’s novels don’t provide a detailed appearance. Which ultimately leads it up to fans’ interpretation.

However, it does make its appearance in Villeneuve’s Dune. Here’s what he had to say about the scene of Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin) playing the baliset:

I will say something to you guys that … There’s one thing that it’s painful for me. It’s Gurney Halleck’s baliset. It’s something that I shot. It’s something that exists. Josh was awesome, but for several reasons, I was not able to put it in Part One.

Denis Villeneuve

It’s understandable not to have the time to include every detail from a book into a movie. But considering fans couldn’t be blessed with the scene of Brolin playing the baliset which is already shot, it makes one wonder if it will see the light of the day in Dune’s sequel.

Villeneuve has already shared his hopes of directing a sequel, as his Dune: Part One only covers the first half of the 1965 novel.

Dune: Part One, directed by Villeneuve, will be released on October 22, 2021, both in theaters and HBO Max.

About Dune

Dune (also known as Dune: Part One) is an American sci-fi film based on Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, directed by Denis Villeneuve.

Part One introduced the planet of Dune/Arrakis, the only place where the enhancer drug “Melange” is found and sought out by many. The Atreides House is sent to the planet as the ruling Duke, as part of their adversaries’ trap. However, the Atreides are aware of the same and aim to defend Dune and their house.

The ensemble cast is made up of Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

Source: Slashfilm