Surrealist cinema occupies a unique place in film culture that is outside of any traditional standards of storytelling. The style is as old as the classic silent films ofGeorges Méliès, and is responsible for some of the most striking imagery in the history of the medium. Despite their lasting influence, surrealist cinema has never had significant mainstream appeal. Nonetheless, the subgenre has spawned many prominent artists, including the brilliant Chilean filmmakerAlejandro Jodorowsky.Ever since his breakout acid WesternEl Topoearned a cult fanbase in the 1970s,Jodorowsky has made bold and disturbing filmsthat combine rich mythology with thought-provoking philosophy.
Despite the singular achievements within his filmography, Jodorowsky is perhaps best known for the most ambitious film that he ever made. The surrealist auteur once launched an ambitious endeavorto adaptFrank Herbert’s science fiction novelDune, spending years of his life dedicated to the film’s pre-production and conceptual design. Jodorowsky’s enthusiasm got the better of him, and his version ofDunewas promptly canceled beforeDavid Lynchtook a stab at the famously dense material. While he never got to enter Herbert’s elaborate world,Jodorowsky did create his own science fiction odyssey with the graphic novelThe Incal.
Jodorowsky’s Dune
The story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel.
What Is Alejandro Jodorowsky’s ‘The Incal’ About?
First released as a serialized adventurein the French science fiction magazineMétal Hurlant, The Incalis a science fiction graphic novel that serves as the first entry in Jodorowksy’s “Metabarons Universe,”which includes all the graphic novels that he wrote. The stories feature stunning artwork by the highly influential conceptual artistJean Giraud, whose designs found their way intomany of the best science fiction films of all-time, includingTron, The Abyss,andAlien. Bolstered by Jodorowsky’s growing popularity thanks to the success of his filmsThe Holy MountainandTuskwithin arthouse cinemas,The Incalwas later collected as six hardcover novels that synthesized the stories.The release of the prequel series,Before the Incal,in the early 21st century inspired the publishing house Les Humanoïdes Associés to make the series more widely available in the United States.
Although the series featured an original story,The Incalwas inspired by Jodorowsky’s failed ideas for hisDunemovie. The director said that he dreamed that he “was flying in intergalactic space,” and remained committed tocreating a space opera filmthat allowed him to pursue these fantasies. On a narrative level,The Incalbears a lot in common withDune. The series takes place in a dystopian future where mankind has spread its reach into an intergalactic empire. Initial stories focused on the division of the fictional universe between the corrupt alien species known as “The Bergs,” the ruthless technological guild known as the Church of Industrial Saints, and the heroic rebels of Amok.
Give Alejandro Jodorowsky a Marvel Budget, You Cowards
Think of what his ‘Dune’ could have been with even half an MCU budget.
Similar toDune,The Incalsubverts expectations of the hero’s journey by focusing on a non-traditional protagonist.The Incal’s lead character is the private investigator John Difool, who reluctantly finds himself at the center of the intergalactic civil war after nearly being killed by masked villains in a sprawling dystopian metroplex. Difool shares many qualities withthe classic anti-heroes of noir cinema; he has a cynical perception of humanity, breaks into frequent violent outbursts, and suffers from gripping feelings of self-doubt.Similar to Paul Atreides, Difool’s acceptance of his destiny leads him down a darker path as he reckons with the challenges of becoming a messianic figure.
Why ‘The Incal’ Film Adaptation Is Stuck in Development Hell
While Jodorowsky’s adaptation ofDuneis often listed as one of the greatest films never made,The Incalhas been stuck ina similar state of development hellfor over four decades. Given the ever-expanding nature of Jodorowsky’s fictional universe in subsequent continuations, the unwieldy world-building presents an ambitious task for any filmmakers interested in the source material. The Canadian animation directorPascal Blaisonce created a short filmpromoting his vision for what an adaptation would look likein the 1980s. While updated versions of the footage were subsequently released throughout the 2010s, the project never moved past its development stage.
Writer/directorNicholas Winding Refn wasrumored to be involved in an adaptationofThe Incalin the early 2010s after his controversial crime thrillerOnly God Forgivessplit audiences down the middle. Refn’s sensibilities would seemingly line up with Jodorowsky’s, as they both combine head-spinning visual motifs with shocking instances of violence and dark comedy. Refn is a professed fan of Jodorowsky’s, and discussed their friendship in the 2013 documentaryJodorowsky’s Dune. Unfortunately, Refn’s interest never led to an official announcement or development deal.
The most recent update about the project’s status came in 2021 whenTaika Waititi was announced as the next directorworking on an adaptation ofThe Incal.Waititi was reportedly working on a new script alongsideJemaine Clement, a loyal collaborator who hasappeared in many of his projects. However, updates on the film have been scarce; given the plethora of projects Waititi has in development, it’s unclear whetherThe Incalis still a priority.
‘The Incal’ Has Influenced Science Fiction Classics
Although it is unfortunate that it has never received a proper adaptation,The Incalhas inspired many brilliant science fiction films. Thecombination of futuristic technology with the moody atmosphere of a classic neo-noirhas made its way into such all-time classics asBlade Runner, The Matrix, Akira, The Fifth Element,andDark City.(Though it is worth mentioning thatJodorowsy wound up suingLuc BessonoverThe Fifth Element’s similarities toThe Incal.) The sprawling cityscape that serves as the backdrop for political chaos can even be compared to role that the planet Coruscant occupies in theStar Warsprequel trilogy.
When considering the significant political, religious, and mystical themes that it tackles,a proper adaptation ofThe Incalmay never see the light of day.It’s hardlythe first work of fiction to be deemed “unadaptable,”but it nonetheless would require significant investment from any studio or filmmaker interested in bringing the story to the screen. Regardless of what happens toThe Incal, it remains a cornerstone of Jodorowsky’s legacy that will most certainly influence generations of storytellers.
