In film journalist and /Film alum Max Evry’s book “A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune – An Oral History” (via Mashable), the cast and crew reveal a bevy of behind-the-scenes secrets. At one point, for instance, Val Kilmer, Tom Cruise, and Kevin Costner were all being considered for the role of Paul Atreides. Similarly, it seems Lynch had several other actresses in mind for the Lady Jessica role.
Famed costume designer Bob Ringwood revealed that he himself suggested Glenn Close for the part of Lady Jessica, adding:
“I went and saw ‘The World According to Garp,’ one of her early films. I went back the next day to David and Raffaella [De Laurentiis, producer] and said, ‘I’ve just seen a film and it’s got this actress called Glenn Close. She’s not pretty, but she’s a bloody good actress.’ They did see her, and after they saw her, I said, ‘Oh, how did it get on with Glenn Close?’ They said, ‘She’s plain and she’ll never be a star.’ I said, ‘I think you might be wrong about that.’ They didn’t cast her, and of course, she went on to become an enormous star.”
David Lynch has done a lot of things right, both on and off-screen — such as the time he launched a mental health initiative for college students. But passing on Glenn Close because she was “plain”? That’s got to be one of his most historic blunders. Perhaps he was swayed by the opinions of those around him, but as we grow to appreciate “Dune” 1984 with all its quirks, this is one aspect that will never look good no matter which way you argue it. Thank god Francesca Annis turned out to be such a solid pick.
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