Movies - TV
Kyle MacLachlan Stole His Role In David Lynch’s Dune From Val Kilmer
By JOE ROBERTS
Featuring Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides and Francesca Annis as Lady Jessica, Lynch's “Dune” might have turned out differently had MacLachlan not been selected for the lead role.
In Max Evry's book “A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch's Dune – An Oral History,” casting director Jane Jenkins revealed Lynch's initial desire to cast Val Kilmer in “Dune.”
Jenkins shared, “I think the biggest shake-up early on was that we were going to go with Val Kilmer for Paul [Atreides] [...] There were a handful of actors that we talked about.”
Production office assistant Craig Campobasso mentioned that they also auditioned Kevin Costner and Michael Biehn. Yet, Jenkins believed that Kilmer was their choice for Paul.
In a last-minute decision, MacLachlan auditioned and immediately impressed Lynch. Campobasso strongly emphasized, “Paul-Muad'Dib is not an easy character. Kyle made it look easy.”
Lynch picked MacLachlan over Kilmer because he knew author Frank Herbert’s epic novel undeniably well. MacLachlan told the LA Times, “I had read 'Dune' and I was Paul Atreides.”