Dune’s Dragonfly Aircraft Were Actually Operable

Dune’s Dragonfly Aircraft Were Actually Operable

The production designer of the highly-anticipated sci-fi tentpole Dune reveals that the dragonfly-shaped aircrafts were actually functional.

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Dune’s Dragonfly Aircraft Were Actually Operable

The production designer of Dune discloses that the dragonfly aircraft or ornithopters made for the film were actually operable. The much-anticipated sci-fi film is based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert and follows the protagonist Paul Atreides, whose family is forced into a war against their long-standing enemies, the Harkonnens, after his father Leto Atreides accepts the stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis. The plot also puts focus on the ancient planet’s natural resource called “spice,” known to assist with space navigation and magnify human capabilities.

Dune is helmed by the French-Canadian director, Denis Villeneuve, in what will be his third venture in the sci-fi genre following 2016’s Arrival and 2017’s Blade Runner 2049. The film also boasts a plethora of talent in its ensemble cast with the likes of Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgard, who plays the main villain, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. The sci-fi feature currently holds a certified fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes with 88%, and after multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is finally set to debut in U.S. theaters this week.

Dune’s lead production designer, Patrice Vermette, sat down for an interview with Science Focus to discuss the creation of the world onscreen, and the part translated from the novel to the screen that excited him the most. He stated that the feature he was most looking forward to in the film was the aircraft known as the ornithopter, which was physically made for the film. He mentioned that he was initially concerned that they might have “gone overboard” with the look and feel of the aircraft but was “so happy” with the final product and was “excited to see that it all worked together.” His quote can be read below:

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“I think one of the biggest moments was when we landed the ornithopters [dragonfly-like spaceships]. It was a company from England called BGI who built them. Just like in [the film] Arrival, our approach is to be as physical as possible. We flew two of them in the film.”

The Oscar-nominated production designer said that he and Villeneuve always had the same approach to the look of Dune, stating that “to believe in something extraordinary, you need to anchor it in normality,” which meant that there was no usage of green screen or blue screen as they wanted the effects to be practical and “real-looking.” He also elaborated on how they had to construct “as much as possible.” Vermette stressed the importance of satisfying readers of the book by including “elements” that they are “expecting to see,” especially the ornithopter, but acknowledged the fact that they had to “be careful” with their portrayal of the airborne vehicle as fans will “have their own interpretation of it.”

It makes perfect sense that Villeneuve wanted to get back to his comfort zone and reunite with his longtime collaborator to create the sci-fi-centric universe of Dune. The trailers for the film revealed Vermette’s version of the ornithopter in full display as it passes over the beautiful sandy landscapes of Arrakis and also promises its involvement in some grand action-packed set-pieces. While Vermette didn’t reveal which scenes the aircraft was used in, audiences don’t have to wait long to theorize and figure out for themselves as Dune hits cinemas this Friday. If the trailers indicate anything, it’s that cinemagoers will be in line for an epic spectacle.

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Link Source : https://screenrant.com/dune-dragonfly-aircraft-ornithopter-operable-working-details/

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