David Lynch Was Proud of All of His Projects Except This One Iconic Film He Deemed a 'Total Failure'

Mar. 15, 2025

David Lynch in London on March 7, 1984.Photo:william karel/Sygma via Getty

william karel/Sygma via Getty

David Lynchrevealed one of his biggest career regrets years before his death.The celebrated director ofMulholland Drive,Blue VelvetandTwin Peaksdied just days before his 79th birthday, his familyannouncedon Thursday, Jan. 16.Before his death, he revealed on his YouTube channel in June 2020 that despite the cult status of his 1984 film,Dune, it was the project he is the least proud of.Lynch directed the 1984 adaptation ofDune, based on the 1965 sci-fi Frank Herbert novel, that starredKyle MacLachlan,Virginia Madsen,Patrick Stewart,Linda Huntand José Ferrer.“I’m sort of proud of everything exceptDune,” he admitted in the video titled “Do You Have a Question For David? Part 1.““I’ve liked so much working in different mediums,” Lynch continued. “It’s not a thing about pride, it’s more like the enjoyment of the doing, enjoyment of the work.“TheEraserheaddirector added, “I’ve just enjoyed working in all these different mediums and I feel, again, really lucky to have been able to enjoy those things and be able to live.““Dune” (1984).Photo 12 / Alamy Stock PhotoLynch had previously spoken about his dissatisfaction with the sci-fi film. Two months before he admitted he wasn’t proud of the feature, he toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat “it was a heartache” for him.He also revealed he had “zero interest” in seeingDenis Villeneuve’s recent adaptations, starringTimothée Chalamet,Oscar Isaac,Jason Momoa,Josh BrolinandZendaya.“It was a failure, and I didn’t have final cut,” he explained to the outlet in April 2020. “I’ve told this story a billion times. It’s not the film I wanted to make. I like certain parts of it very much — but it was a total failure for me.“Additionally, the year prior, in July 2019, he said during a virtual Q&A that the film was the “huge, gigantic sadness in my life.”“Total creative control, I didn’t have it,” he explained, adding, “The film is not the film I would’ve made had I had that final control. It’s a bit of a sadness.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.David Lynch.Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via GettyStill, the cast ofDuneremembered Lynch fondly, honoring him with tributes after news of his death.“Forty-two years ago, for reasons beyond my comprehension, David Lynch plucked me out of obscurity to star in his first and last big budget movie. He clearly saw something in me that even I didn’t recognize. I owe my entire career, and life really, to his vision,” wrote MacLachlan, 65, on Instagram.Alicia Witt, a child star fromDune,wrotethat Lynch “showed me who i was. on a core level. an actor. a channeler. how would i ever have know such things existed as a possibility if not for him?“TheLonglegsactress, 49, added, “from the first moment he directed me in jane jenkins’ casting office in nyc at my audition for Dune, i felt like i was being seen for the first time. finding a power inside my soul like a seed uncoiling. i can remember the feeling, the communication between us, that i’d follow him anywhere in my mind and he’d lead me to not play alia, but to become alia.”

David Lynchrevealed one of his biggest career regrets years before his death.

The celebrated director ofMulholland Drive,Blue VelvetandTwin Peaksdied just days before his 79th birthday, his familyannouncedon Thursday, Jan. 16.

Before his death, he revealed on his YouTube channel in June 2020 that despite the cult status of his 1984 film,Dune, it was the project he is the least proud of.

Lynch directed the 1984 adaptation ofDune, based on the 1965 sci-fi Frank Herbert novel, that starredKyle MacLachlan,Virginia Madsen,Patrick Stewart,Linda Huntand José Ferrer.

“I’m sort of proud of everything exceptDune,” he admitted in the video titled “Do You Have a Question For David? Part 1.”

“I’ve liked so much working in different mediums,” Lynch continued. “It’s not a thing about pride, it’s more like the enjoyment of the doing, enjoyment of the work.”

TheEraserheaddirector added, “I’ve just enjoyed working in all these different mediums and I feel, again, really lucky to have been able to enjoy those things and be able to live.”

“Dune” (1984).Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo

Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo

Lynch had previously spoken about his dissatisfaction with the sci-fi film. Two months before he admitted he wasn’t proud of the feature, he toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat “it was a heartache” for him.

He also revealed he had “zero interest” in seeingDenis Villeneuve’s recent adaptations, starringTimothée Chalamet,Oscar Isaac,Jason Momoa,Josh BrolinandZendaya.

“It was a failure, and I didn’t have final cut,” he explained to the outlet in April 2020. “I’ve told this story a billion times. It’s not the film I wanted to make. I like certain parts of it very much — but it was a total failure for me.”

Additionally, the year prior, in July 2019, he said during a virtual Q&A that the film was the “huge, gigantic sadness in my life.”

“Total creative control, I didn’t have it,” he explained, adding, “The film is not the film I would’ve made had I had that final control. It’s a bit of a sadness.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

David Lynch.Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Still, the cast ofDuneremembered Lynch fondly, honoring him with tributes after news of his death.

“Forty-two years ago, for reasons beyond my comprehension, David Lynch plucked me out of obscurity to star in his first and last big budget movie. He clearly saw something in me that even I didn’t recognize. I owe my entire career, and life really, to his vision,” wrote MacLachlan, 65, on Instagram.

Alicia Witt, a child star fromDune,wrotethat Lynch “showed me who i was. on a core level. an actor. a channeler. how would i ever have know such things existed as a possibility if not for him?”

TheLonglegsactress, 49, added, “from the first moment he directed me in jane jenkins’ casting office in nyc at my audition for Dune, i felt like i was being seen for the first time. finding a power inside my soul like a seed uncoiling. i can remember the feeling, the communication between us, that i’d follow him anywhere in my mind and he’d lead me to not play alia, but to become alia.”

source: people.com