Frank Herbert's 1965 novel Dune is widely considered the absolute masterpiece of science fiction literature, and its towering influence on the genre simply cannot be overstated.
It sold a truly massive amount of copies, becoming the world's best-selling science fiction novel. It won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. Most importantly, it is a phenomenal, deeply layered book, regardless of whether you typically enjoy sci-fi politics or giant space worms.
It is also widely acknowledged that George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise, drew heavy, highly specific inspiration from Dune when he wrote the script for the original 1977 film. Heck, Lucas borrowed ideas from absolutely everywhere, synthesizing them into his own unique mythological stew. However, the fingerprints of Arrakis are unmistakably smudged all over Tatooine.
Common themes between ᑐ ᑌ ᑎ ᕮ and Star Wars
The Chosen One and the Prophecy
One of the most obvious similarities between Dune and Star Wars is the core concept of a "chosen one" who is genetically and spiritually destined to bring balance to a chaotic universe. In Dune, this chosen one is Paul Atreides. He is the son of the noble Duke Leto Atreides, and he is tasked with leading a violent desert rebellion against the evil Baron Harkonnen and the Padishah Emperor.
In Star Wars, the chosen one archetype is split across generations, initially embodied by Luke Skywalker and later defined by his father, Anakin. Both characters are young men with extraordinary, latent abilities. They are violently thrust into an interstellar conflict that they did not ask for, and both must eventually come to terms with their dark destiny and the immense, terrifying weight of their responsibilities. Both heroes also suffer the loss of their primary paternal figure early in their journey.
One could make a really good argument that the sequel trilogy attempted to force Rey into this exact same mold, though perhaps with less narrative grace.
Mysterious Forces and Mind Control
Another glaring similarity between Dune and Star Wars is the heavy use of a mystical, binding force that can be harnessed by highly trained individuals to perform seemingly supernatural feats. In Dune, this force is accessed through rigorous Bene Gesserit mental conditioning and the mind-expanding "spice trance." This trance is induced by the geriatric drug melange, found exclusively on the desert planet of Arrakis.
In Star Wars, this omnipresent energy field is known simply as the Force. It is accessed through deep meditation and rigorous Jedi training. Both forces allow individuals to manipulate physical reality in ways that seem scientifically impossible. Both are used by characters to perform incredible feats of strength, speed, and precognition. Even more specifically, the "Jedi Mind Trick" used by Obi-Wan Kenobi to bend the will of the weak-minded is incredibly similar to the "Voice" used by the Bene Gesserit sisterhood to command total obedience.
I Hate Sand, It Gets Everywhere
The desert planet of Arrakis, with its brutally harsh environment and incredibly valuable natural resources, served as direct, undeniable inspiration for the planet Tatooine in Star Wars. Both planets are marginalized, seemingly desolate backwaters that actually hold the key to the entire galactic narrative. Both are home to fierce nomadic tribes and are ruthlessly oppressed by powerful factions who are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain their iron grip.
In Dune, the ruling class is the Padishah Emperor and the cruel Harkonnens, who seek to monopolize the spice trade. In Star Wars, it is the Galactic Empire, which seeks to maintain its grip on the Outer Rim territories. Even the vehicles are similar. The massive, slow-moving Sandcrawlers used by the Jawas bear a striking visual and functional resemblance to the giant Spice Harvesters crawling across the dunes of Arrakis.
Space Slugs and Giant Worms
The iconic Sarlacc pit from Return of the Jedi and the Exogorth space slug from The Empire Strikes Back owe a massive conceptual debt to the Shai-Hulud of Arrakis. Frank Herbert created the ultimate terrifying, gaping maw of the desert. Lucas simply adapted the concept of giant, terrifying annelids swallowing ships and characters whole, placing them in asteroids and sand pits across a galaxy far, far away.
Of Raiders and Fremen
The desert planet setting of Tatooine also includes a nomadic tribe of deeply misunderstood people known as the Tusken Raiders. They function incredibly similarly to the Fremen in Dune. Both groups are portrayed to outsiders as savage, primitive, and highly dangerous. However, both possess a deep, spiritual connection to the land and a masterful understanding of the harsh realities of their environment.
Both the Fremen and Tusken Raiders also possess unique stealth skills that make them totally formidable adversaries in battle, often utilizing the desert terrain to ambush technologically superior foes. Furthermore, both cultures wear extensive face coverings to protect themselves from the brutal environment, creating an instantly recognizable, intimidating silhouette.
Good vs. Evil and the Fall into Tyranny
Perhaps the most significant thematic similarity between Dune and Star Wars is the exploration of how power corrupts and the desperate lengths that people will go to in order to maintain their grip on the galaxy.
In Dune, the Bene Gesserit sisterhood represents an ancient and secretive religious group who manipulate events behind the scenes. The Harkonnen family represents the darkest, most hedonistic side of human nature, seeking power and control through torture and fear. In Star Wars, the Jedi Order represents the ascetic, monk-like light side of the Force, while the Sith represent the dark side, seeking power and control through raw, unchecked emotion.
Also, Jabba The Hutt is a massive, highly intelligent, grotesquely fat slug who controls an entire criminal empire from a desert throne room. Leto II Atreides literally transforms into a massive, highly intelligent, grotesquely fat worm who controls an entire galactic empire from a desert throne room in God Emperor of Dune. The visual parallels are practically undeniable.
Did George Lucas Acknowledge His Borrowings from Dune?
While it is widely acknowledged by film historians that George Lucas drew massive inspiration from Frank Herbert's Dune when he wrote the early drafts for the original Star Wars film, it is also well known that Herbert was not entirely pleased with the extent of the borrowing. Early drafts of Star Wars actually included "spice mining" and explicit mentions of noble houses warring over a desert planet.
In a 1979 interview with Omni Magazine, Herbert expressed his deep frustration with the heavy similarities between Star Wars and his life's work, saying:
"I understand that Star Wars is going to be one of the biggest money-making films ever. I'm not sure I like that. It's been my life for six years, and it's kind of like seeing someone else run off with your wife."
Herbert went on to explain that while he didn't necessarily begrudge Lucas his financial success, he was deeply disappointed that he had not been approached for permission to use his specific concepts and world-building elements.
"I would have said no to most of it. It's not that I don't think Star Wars is fun, it's just that it's not science fiction. It's a fantasy set in space. It has a lot of elements of mythology and mysticism, which I don't believe are science fictional."
Herbert also heavily criticized the way that Star Wars simplified and sanitized the deeply complex, mature themes he explored in Dune. He felt Lucas had taken a story about the dangers of charismatic leadership and turned it into a simple, black-and-white morality tale. In fact, Herbert jokingly formed a mock organization called the "We're Too Big to Sue George Lucas Society" with fellow science fiction authors whose works had been heavily "sampled" by the filmmaker.
It is clear that while Herbert may have been somewhat flattered by the massive attention that Star Wars brought to the space opera genre, he was ultimately disappointed with the way Lucas had lifted his ideas without credit and diluted their philosophical impact for a mass audience.
The Many Muses of George Lucas
George Lucas has openly acknowledged that he drew heavy inspiration from a massive, eclectic range of sources when creating the Star Wars universe. He essentially threw decades of pop culture, historical film, and classic literature into a blender.
Here is a list of some of the most notable influences and the media they came from:
Flash Gordon Serials - The Flash Gordon serials were a series of cheap, episodic adventure films that were incredibly popular in the 1930s and 1940s. They featured heroic characters fighting against evil villains and often included futuristic technology, space travel, and dramatic wipe transitions. The Star Wars films were heavily influenced by the pacing and visual style of the Flash Gordon serials, particularly with their use of similar character archetypes and opening text crawls.
Akira Kurosawa's Films - Akira Kurosawa was a legendary Japanese filmmaker who directed many classic samurai films, including The Hidden Fortress, which was a massive, direct structural influence on the original Star Wars film. Lucas has fully acknowledged that the characters of R2-D2 and C-3PO were directly inspired by Tahei and Matashichi, two bickering peasants from The Hidden Fortress. The overall narrative structure of telling an epic story from the perspective of the lowest-ranking characters was lifted directly from Kurosawa's masterpiece.
Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces - The Hero with a Thousand Faces is a groundbreaking book by Joseph Campbell that explores the common themes and "monomyth" archetypes found in myths and stories from around the world. Lucas was heavily influenced by Campbell's psychological ideas and used them as a rigid framework for the story of Star Wars. Luke Skywalker acts as the perfect, textbook archetypal hero on a quest to save the galaxy.
The Works of J.R.R. Tolkien - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings was a major influence on the Star Wars films, particularly in the use of an epic, sweeping narrative that takes place across multiple fantastical locations and involves a large, diverse cast of characters. The character of Gandalf the Grey clearly serves as direct inspiration for Obi-Wan Kenobi as the wise, self-sacrificing mentor. Indeed, when Lucas was writing the early drafts of the ANH script, he literally used excerpts from Lord of the Rings featuring Gandalf as placeholder dialogue for his wizard character!
Science Fiction Pulp Magazines - Science fiction pulp magazines were a popular form of cheap entertainment in the 1930s and 1940s. They featured sensational stories of adventure, space travel, and bizarre futuristic technology. Lucas has acknowledged that he was a massive fan of these magazines and that their striking cover art influenced his visual vision for Star Wars. And we haven't even started on the John Carter of Mars novels, which provided the blueprint for the swashbuckling space adventure.
Lucas has also cited classic World War II aerial dogfight films as a direct visual influence for the Death Star trench run, specifically referencing classics such as The Guns of Navarone and The Dambusters. He even spliced footage from these war films into his early rough cuts to show his special effects team exactly how the X-Wing battles should look and feel.
