“He had always been very feminist”: Denis Villeneuve Subtly Gender-Swapped a Major Dune Character That Was Originally a White Man in the Books

Dune actress reveals the real reason Denis Villeneuve gender-swapped important supporting character from Frank Herbert’s novel.

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is an adaptation of author Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel of the same name. However, given the sheer scale and scope of the novel, it is understandable that Villeneuve and his team took some creative liberties while adapting the source material for the big screen.
Denis Villeneuve (Image Credit: TongTongCulture | YouTube)
One of the major yet subtle changes made to the book’s story is in relation to one of the important supporting characters from the earlier portions of Paul Atreides, and his mother, Lady Jessica’s time on the desert planet Arrakis. Here is everything you need to know about the changes Villeneuve made to this character and why they were gender-swapped in the film.

Why Did Denis Villeneuve Gender-Swap a Major Dune Character?

In 2021’s Dune, viewers are introduced to a sprawling new world brimming with conflict between various factions as Timothée Chalamet‘s Paul Atreides finds himself in the middle of chaos following the death of his father. After fleeing to Arrakis, Paul eventually crosses paths with Dr. Liet Kynes, an Imperial ecologist.
Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Dr. Liet Kynes in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune (2021)
In the book, the character of Dr. Liet Kynes is a white male who serves as an ally to House Atreides. Kynes is also depicted as a white male in David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation with Max von Sydow in the role. However, in the 2021 film adaptation, the character has been gender-swapped to an African-American woman with actress Sharon Duncan-Brewster of Sex Education essaying the role.

In a 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, Duncan-Brewster opened up about playing a gender-bent version of the character and shed light on director Denis Villeneuve‘s decision to make the change. She stated:
“What Denis had stated to me was there was a lack of female characters in his cast, and he had always been very feminist, pro-women, and wanted to write the role for a woman.”
Duncan-Brewster made the above statement, highlighting Villeneuve’s feminist beliefs as the primary reason behind the change to the source material. At the same time, the actress explained that the character is essentially a peacekeeper and Villeneuve believed women are generally better at brokering peace, resulting in the gender-bent version of Kynes.

How Does Liet Kynes in Dune Differ From Her Book Counterpart?

The 2021 film version of Dr. Liet Kynes is mostly fundamentally similar to her book counterpart, aside from the swapping of gender and changing of race. In the books, Kynes is also an ally of House Atreides, who tries to help Paul and Lady Jessica on Arrakis. However, the character’s fate in the source material is slightly different when compared to the film.
Max von Sydow as Doctor Kynes in David Lynch’s Dune (1984)
In the film, Kynes is mortally wounded in a fight with Sardaukar soldiers while helping Paul and Lady Jessica escape. She later dies after luring a sandworm to her location, taking out the Sardaukar soldiers in the process. In the book, Kynes is punished for assisting House Atreides and abandoned in the desert, eventually dying during a spice blow.

While the film retains Kynes dying due to loyalty to House Atreides, the death feels more impactful because of its sacrificial nature. In the book, Kynes is also the father of Zendaya’s Chani, a Fremen warrior and love interest of Paul. However, the films have yet to address this connection, and this revelation will likely be changed because of the character’s gender-swap.

Dune is streaming on Max.