David Lynch's film "Dune" did not have a long run in theaters in both countries. According to Casas, the film overwhelmed the director and everyone due to its scope. Although De Laurentiis knew he was going to lose money with the film, he had a contract with Lynch for two films. In the 1980s, directors could move to another country, and Lynch spent a year and a half in Mexico to carry out his vision of "Dune."
Behind the main actors of the film, such as Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, and Sting, there was a team of local workers and extras who collaborated on the project. Lynch made friends with people from the cultural and social circle of the area and returned to the country with his then-partner, Isabella Rossellini. The influence of the film brought more foreign productions to Mexico and demonstrated the technical capability of local workers.
During his stay in Mexico, Lynch lived in Polanco and expressed his enthusiasm for filming in the country. Although it was not a box office success at the time and Lynch came to renounce it, over time it has become a cult film, which was reflected in the contemporary version directed by Denis Villeneuve.
The project to film "Dune" in Mexico was Dino de Laurentiis's idea, a recognized film producer, who saw Lynch as the ideal director for the film. The choice of Mexico as a location was due to the devaluation that the country experienced in 1982, which made filming with budgets in dollars more economical.
Despite not appearing in the credits, Mexican actors such as Angélica Aragón, Honorato Magaloni, Claudia Ramírez, Ramón Menéndez, and Humberto Elizondo participated as extras in "Dune." Ernesto Laguardia had a prominent role in the film, while young actor Miguel Cane was chosen as an extra by chance.
The filming site in Mexico captured the attention of film professionals thanks to its diverse geography. The Samalayuca Desert in Chihuahua and the Churubusco Studios in Mexico City were striking scenarios for the production. The film premiered in Mexico in 1985 without a glamorous red carpet, something unusual at that time.
Despite the criticisms of the visual effects and the adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel, "Dune" left a mark on the Mexican film industry and served as inspiration for future projects.
