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Liet Kynes gender/race swap.
posted by OddRobSTAFFMOD on February 1, 2020 at 2:03 AM
Seriously? What is the point of this? The story already has POC and strong waaaman that basically rule over the great houses/empire. I just dont understand why Hollywood can never leave the source material alone. I wonder what else they are going to change just because they feel like it....
Reply by tmdb33747247
on February 1, 2020 at 3:39 PM
inb4 somebody calls you racist, sexist, this-a-phobe, that-a-phobe, etc. etc.
Reply by OddRob
on February 3, 2020 at 11:33 PM
I always pictured the Fremen as Middle eastern/African/Native American/Asian looking mixed. So the race swap wouldnt been a big deal, but Liet-Kynes came off world as Planetary ecologist and basically went native. I always pictured him as white. And I just dont understand why they decided to go with the gender swap. We have plenty of strong female characters in Dune and they are all great! But Hollywood has to go and change things up for no reason, like always.
Reply by AlienFanatic
on February 4, 2020 at 11:28 AM
I'll admit that I don't get the reasoning for it. The original author made Liet Kynes a man for whatever reason. It feels like tinkering with the original author's vision of their project. There are reasons, both overt and unintentional, for the author to have chosen to make this character or that character male or female. Gender has an effect on the reader's expectations that a given character will behave in a particular fashion. Writers and and/or directors can then play into or against these stereotypes as they see fit. If this is "just" a gender-swap, then it's a waste and makes no sense. But if Villeneuve and his writer(s) have used this as an opportunity to play the character in a different way than was conceived by Herbert, it might work. The proof will be in the pudding, as they say.
I admit that I'm getting tired of this intense and obvious gender and diversity push that emerged immediately after the #OscarsSoWhite and #MeToo movements. Hollywood is notoriously sensitive to social media. They trip all over themselves to demonstrate their progressivism. Perhaps that works, but it's so obvious that they're pandering and desperate to please that I find it off-putting. Just make good stories, please, and even if your goal IS to diversify stop trumpeting it in the media as you so obviously and loudly beg for kudos and adulation. Ugh.
Reply by znexyish
on February 4, 2020 at 4:26 PM
Calm down. Just rumors till confirmed.
For a more balanced point of view ... https://youtu.be/-Dggq8Yu8qc
Reply by OddRob
on February 4, 2020 at 11:32 PM
Than why isnt Sharon Duncan-Brewster credited with a character on imdb yet?
Reply by OddRob
on February 4, 2020 at 11:42 PM
But heres the thing, Dune is extremely diverse naturally. There is no need for forced representation, something that Hollywood seems to love doing for the past few years....thanks #MeToo. And I agree, if Villeneuve has a reason for the gender swap I hope its a good one. I just hope they can stay true to the source and not piss fans off. Because lets be honest, Dune isnt exactly main stream. They cant rely on name alone...looking at you Star Wars. Dune needs the fan base. I have a feeling this might tun into another BR2049, amazing work but not for the main stream masses. I hope Im wrong and it does turn into the new Star Wars. And they actually have a chance to turn it into the new SW since Disney seems dead set on killing that brand, the numbers for the last film prove that.
Reply by OddRob
on April 15, 2020 at 12:52 AM
Confirmed. And no point to it whatsoever.
Reply by bratface
on April 15, 2020 at 1:38 AM
Here's another video about Dune made today by the same guy in the link above (Quinn).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvdLgLlE78g&list=PLRXGGVBzHLUdZsGtzC9RIydS73rkXMPz7
Reply by OddRob
on April 15, 2020 at 4:09 AM
Got this from a youtube comment. makes sense now why they gender swapped Liet.
'Having Liet be a woman makes no sense in Fremen Zensunni society. No Fremen man would listen to a woman (but for one exception) let alone let her be a leader of men, all Naib (leaders) of Sietchs are men. Liet in Dune is honored in village and Sietch, all of Dune's Naib respect and follow Liet's vision for the future of Dune as a lush green world and await the Mahdi, their messiah. The highest station a female can be in Fremen society is a Sayyidina or a Reverend Mother. Both Jessica and Channi were Sayyidina (friend of god) Reverend Mother are there to give council, that council is respected, because of Bene Gesserit powers, but they do not lead. And Bene Gesserit don't want to lead, they control from the shadows. In spite of that Fremen women are skilled and fierce fighters, and are capable of any task that the Sietch might require, but not leadership. And especially not councilor to all Naib or the cultural visionary of the world.'
So they basically wanted a female to lead the Fremen so they dont look misogynist. Thanks Hollywood, keep doing you.
Reply by Tsavo
on September 29, 2020 at 8:50 AM
Yeah, unfortunately Quinn is a bit of an arrogant ass, though he does have a pretty genuine love for the books.
Reply by OddRob
on September 29, 2020 at 11:25 PM
Yeah I agree. I do like his videos, he def has a passion for the series. I just really hope this gender/race swap is the only thing they changed from the books. I better see a gay rapist insistual Baron Harkonnen.
Reply by bratface
on September 29, 2020 at 11:29 PM
Do you mean incestual?
Reply by OddRob
on September 29, 2020 at 11:35 PM
Yes, apparently I cant spell and auto correct cant either. :)
Reply by bratface
on September 29, 2020 at 11:41 PM
I wasn't sure because I always got the gay vibe but not sure where you are getting the incest part?
Reply by Tsavo
on September 29, 2020 at 11:57 PM
The book seemed to give a pretty clear impression that the Baron had a thing for Feyd.