David Lynch’s ‘Dune’ Getting 4K Release From Arrow Video

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is arriving later this year, but the Arrival director isn’t the first person to tackle Frank Herbert’s seminal sci-fi epic. In 1984, David Lynch helmed a film adaptation of Dune, too – and it didn’t go so well. Lynch’s take on the tale was a box office bomb, and Lynch himself has disowned the film due to studio interference. But while Lynch may not be a fan of the film, his Dune has developed a big cult following over the years. And now, the folks at Arrow Video are releasing the film on 4K.

The sleeper has awakened and Arrow Video is gearing up to release David Lynch’s Dune on 4K Blu-ray. The new Blu-ray will be released in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, and features two different versions: a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Steelbook Edition. And that’s pretty darn exciting, gang. Lynch’s Dune is a bit messy, but it’s also a fascinating adaptation, and despite interference, Lynch’s voice still comes through.

Bringing Dune to the big screen was no easy feat. For a while, Alejandro Jodorowsky was trying to adapt Frank Herbert’s book – but Jodorowsky’s approach was too strange and too ambitious, and it never quite came together (for more on this, you should check out the excellent documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune). When the Jodorowsky version failed to happen, David Lynch entered the picture. At that point, Lynch had helmed two features – Eraserhead and The Elephant Man – and he was already established as a unique young filmmaker on the rise. Who better to tackle this material?

But Lynch did not have final cut on Dune, and as a result, producers tinkered with his vision – leading the filmmaker to completely disown the movie. Now, all these years later, Lynch’s Dune is getting its 4K release. Here are the details:

Following a notorious aborted attempt by Alejandro Jodorowsky in the 1970s, Frank Herbert’s bestselling sci-fi epic Dune finally made it to the big screen as the third film by emerging surrealist wunderkind David Lynch, featuring an all-star cast that includes several of Lynch’s regular collaborators.

The year is 10,191, and four planets are embroiled in a secret plot to wrest control of the Spice Melange, the most precious substance in the universe and found only on the planet Arrakis. A feud between two powerful dynasties, House Atreides and House Harkonnen, is manipulated from afar by ruling powers that conspire to keep their grip on the spice. As the two families clash on Arrakis, Duke Atreides’ son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan, in his screen debut) finds himself at the center of an intergalactic war and an ancient prophecy that could change the galaxy forever.

Though its initial reception ensured that Lynch largely eschewed mainstream filmmaking for the rest of his career, Dune has since been rightly re-evaluated as one of the most startlingly original and visionary science fiction films of the 1980s. Its astonishing production design and visual effects can now be appreciated anew in this spellbinding 4K restoration, accompanied by hours of comprehensive bonus features.

This new release comes with a slew of new special features, too. Here they are:

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

Brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative
60-page perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the film by Andrew Nette, Christian McCrea and Charlie Brigden, an American Cinematographer interview with sound designer Alan Splet from 1984, excerpts from an interview with the director from Chris Rodley’s book Lynch on Lynch and a Dune Terminology glossary from the original release
Large fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dániel Taylor
Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions
Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dániel Taylor

DISC ONE – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Brand new audio commentary by film historian Paul M. Sammon
Brand new audio commentary by Mike White of The Projection Booth podcast
Impressions of Dune, a 2003 documentary on the making of the film, featuring interviews with star Kyle MacLachlan, producer Raffaella de Laurentiis, cinematographer Freddie Francis, editor Antony Gibbs and many others
Designing Dune, a 2005 featurette looking back at the work of production designer Anthony Masters
Dune FX, a 2005 featurette exploring the special effects in the film
Dune Models & Miniatures, a 2005 featurette focusing on the model effects in the film
Dune Costumes, a 2005 featurette looking at the elaborate costume designs seen in the film
Eleven deleted scenes from the film, with a 2005 introduction by Raffaella de Laurentiis
Destination Dune, a 1983 featurette originally produced to promote the film at conventions and publicity events
Theatrical trailers and TV spots
Extensive image galleries, including hundreds of still photos

DISC TWO – BONUS DISC (BLU-RAY)

The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune, a brand new feature-length documentary by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures exploring the making of the film, featuring dozens of new and archive interviews with cast and crew
Beyond Imagination: Merchandising Dune, a brand new featurette exploring the merchandise created to promote the film, featuring toy collector/producer Brian Sillman (The Toys That Made Us)
Prophecy Fulfilled: Scoring Dune, a brand new featurette on the film’s music score, featuring interviews with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro, and film music historian Tim Greiving
Brand new interview with make-up effects artist Giannetto de Rossi, filmed in 2020
Archive interview with production coordinator Golda Offenheim, filmed in 2003
Archive interview with star Paul Smith, filmed in 2008
Archive interview with make-up effects artist Christopher Tucker

The Dune 4K Blu-ray arrives on August 31, 2021. You can pre-order it here.