What's The Song In The Dune Trailer?

The 1965 novel Dune written by Frank Herbert is often considered to be one of the most seminal works of science-fiction literature. Nearly 20 years later, in 1984, David Lynch directed an adaptation of Dune, which unfortunately was critically panned and wound up bombing at the box office. In the decades since, Dune has become a cult favorite — and sci-fi fans have been wanting another chance to see the world of Dune brought to life on the big screen. Now, they finally get their chance. 

Viewers got their first look at the Dune remake in April 2020, thanks to an exclusive feature printed in Vanity Fair. Director Denis Villeneuve assembled an absolutely insane cast for the new Dune – Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban, Zendaya as Chani, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, and more — and everyone's been waiting with bated breath to finally see a trailer for what's certain to be one of the most important cinematic events of 2020.

Those wishes were finally answered when Warner Bros. released the trailer for Dune on September 9, 2020. 

There's a lot to ruminate on with this trailer. From the visuals to the cinematography, Villeneuve seems poised to deliver another hit. But there's another thing about the trailer that grabbed our attention: the song. Turns out, it's an old classic that has a bit more significance than you may have first thought. 

The song used in the Dune trailer is "Eclipse" by Pink Floyd. It sounds as though it may be a cover of the song, and that composer Hans Zimmer put his own unique twist on the song, which is one of the best tracks off the band's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. Pink Floyd and influential sci-fi adaptations are a match made in heaven, but using the song in the Dune trailer does more than set a tone. The lyrics also go in tandem with the themes present in Dune. 

Herbert's novel deals heavily with human influence over the ecosystem. The ecologist Dr. Kynes, whom Sharon Duncan-Brewster plays in the upcoming adaptation, wants to transform Arrakis' ecosystem to turn the desert into a vibrant, fertile environment. Of course, such actions would have devastating effects on the population of sandworms and the muad'dib.

When looking for meaning in "Eclipse," it's best to turn to Roger Waters, Pink Floyd's bass guitarist and vocalist. Speaking with British journalist and musician Karl Dallas for an interview, conducted in 1987 and printed in the book Pink Floyd: Bricks in the Wall, Waters talked about the meaning behind "Eclipse" (via Esquire).

"I think it's a very simple statement saying that all the good things life can offer are there for us to grasp, but that the influence of some dark force in our natures prevents us from seizing them," said Waters. "The song addresses the listener and says that if you, the listener, are affected by that force, and if that force is a worry to you, well I feel exactly the same too."

Humans have the power to bring great life to the planet. However, they can also wreak untold levels of havoc. Everything is in balance between humanity, the sun, the moon, and the Earth itself. Dune explores this balance and the issues that arise when humans extend their grasp too far. And in today's world, that message is more prudent than ever before. 

Kyle McLachlan, the star of 1984's Dune, thinks a good adaptation of the classic novel is impossible. We'll see for ourselves when the new Dune is released on December 18, 2020.