With Dune, director Denis Villeneuve brings a new adaptation of Frank Herbert’s work to the big screen, and the story’s influence on Game of Thrones is more evident than ever. Villeneuve’s latest film covers the first half of Herbert’s first Dune novel, published in 1965, and follows three different major groups: House Atreides, House Harkonnen, and the Fremen. After a royal decree, House Atreides takes over stewardship of Arrakis, which is home to the Fremen and the spice mining operation. However, House Harkonnen previously mined the spice, which is essential for space travel, and the Harkonnens don’t appreciate the Emperor’s reassignment. House Harkonnen eventually attacks House Atreides, leaving Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his magical mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), no choice but to go on the run in the deserts of Arrakis.
HBO’s Game of Thrones, based on novels by George R.R. Martin, first debuted in 2011. The show started relatively small; however, it continually built popularity over the next decade. Throughout the HBO show’s run, the series would constantly shock fans by defying fantasy tropes. Characters who appeared to be the main heroes died, betrayals ran rampant, and Game of Thrones continuously subverted expectations. By the time the show aired its finale in 2019, it was a behemoth. Despite controversies over the final season and a viral fan petition to redo the show’s last episodes, the finale drew a record 19.3 million viewers.
Though Game of Thrones seemed wholly original when it aired, the series has several similarities to Dune. In Game of Thrones, the central conflict comes from Great Houses going to war, which also happens in Dune. Similarly, Ned Stark’s (Sean Bean) story is almost a mirror image to that of House Atreides’ leader, Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac). Both Game of Thrones and Dune also showcase powerful and influential religious figures in the Bene Gesserit and the maesters. While both stories have other influences, such as European history and classic myths, Dune appears to inspire several Game of Thrones characters and plot points.
Great Houses Warring
In both Dune and Game of Thrones, the Great Houses can’t seem to get along. In Dune, House Harkonnen has an old feud with House Atreides, and House Stark and House Lannister seem to emulate that in Game of Thrones. Like Harkonnen, House Lannister is incredibly wealthy and obsessed with power. The Harkonnens and Lannisters also aren’t opposed to dirty political tactics to get ahead, which seems to fly in the face of House Atreides and the honor-obsessed House Stark. In both stories, the Houses eventually turn to war, with House Lannister and House Harkonnen causing betrayals that nearly lead to the downfalls of House Atreides and House Stark. However, they inevitably rise up.
Ned Stark Is Leto Atreides
The stories of Ned Stark and Leto Atreides are eerily similar. In each tale, the characters are noble leaders of their Houses with honor at the core of everything they do. However, their honor also fails them. Despite going against their better judgment, both leaders move to a warmer climate due to a royal request. For Leto Atreides, the Emporer calls on his House to take charge of the desert planet of Arrakis. He does so despite knowing the move will put his people at odds with House Harkonnen. In the case of Ned Stark, his friend and king, Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), calls on him to become the Hand of the King after his former Hand dies. Both men can’t turn their back on honor, and it eventually leads to them facing betrayal and death.
The Influence Of Religion
The Bene Gesserit is a pseudo-religious sisterhood of women that influences galactic power through religion, politics, and genetic experimentation. However, the heart of their mission is always furthering their own agenda and mixing bloodlines enough to bring for the Kwisatz Haderach. Lady Jessica explains the Kwisatz Haderach is a male with a mind that’s “powerful enough to bridge space and time.” And the organization isn’t afraid to play the long game. As the Reverend Mother says early in Dune, the Bene Gesserit measures its plans in centuries.
In Game of Thrones, the maesters are almost a funhouse image of the Bene Gesserit. Like the Bene Gesserit, they also align themselves with the Great Houses, subtly wielding influence throughout Westeros over centuries. However, the group is made of men instead of women. And while the Bene Gesserit seem to use magic to their advantage, fan theories speculate the maesters are trying to rid magic from the world. In fact, they may even secretly be the reason the Targaryens lost their dragons before Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) brought them back.
Turning The Chosen One Prophecy On Its Head
In Dune, the Fremen view Paul as the Lisan al-Gaib, a.k.a. the Voice from the Outer World, a legendary messiah. However, that’s only because the Bene Gesserit planted the idea in their heads, preparing the citizens of Arrakis for the potential Dune messiah’s arrival. In the film, the people of Arrakis chant for Paul, but he tells Lady Jessica, “They see what they’ve been told to see.” Paul is the chosen one because the Bene Gesserit paved the way. And the manipulation has devastating consequences in the books. Though Villeneuve’s adaptation just begins to touch on Herbert’s story, the book series shows the dangers of the Bene Gesserit’s messiah manipulation, with Paul’s reign leading to billions upon billions of deaths.
Game of Thrones also shows the dangers of a messiah. The show has its own chosen one prophecies, with Jon Snow (Kit Harington) or Daenerys being seen as the Prince That Was Promised, a legendary figure who could end the Long Night. But, of course, in Daenerys’ case, she also brought about the destruction of King’s Landing. Was she the Prince That Was Promised? That’s up for debate. However, she undoubtedly follows in Paul’s footsteps, bringing about a massacre.
The Free Folk Are The Fremen And Other Character Equivalents
Throughout Game of Thrones, several characters seem inspired by Dune. The Free Folk/Wildlings are like the Fremen. Both are oppressed groups who take in a young messiah-like figure, Paul in Dune and Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, teaching them their ways and preparing them for leadership. Paul and Jon Snow somewhat mirror each other’s stories, forming romantic relationships with members of the groups. With Paul, it will be Chani (Zendaya), and Jon Snow notably has a relationship with Ygritte (Rose Leslie). Arya (Maisie Williams) also stands out as a prime example. The character appears to draw inspiration from Alia Atreides, Paul’s younger sister in the books. Both are sisters of the supposed chosen ones and powerful, knife-wielders in their own right.
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