In 1984, Patrick Stewart shared the screen with a rock superstar. He had no idea who Sting was
Patrick Stewart recalled that he did not recognise Sting as a famous musician when they worked together on David Lynch’s 1984 film Dune. His bemusement on set offers an amusing glimpse of Stewart’s distance from popular music, while Sting’s casting as the menacing Feyd-Rautha suited the film’s mix of glamour and menace.
Sting had already appeared in Quadrophenia and Brimstone and Treacle before taking the role. Stewart said he asked what instrument Sting played, misunderstood “bass” as a large instrument he carried around, and thought The Police meant an actual police band. Sting later said he took Dune chiefly for the chance to work with Lynch, despite reservations about appearing in a major film.
In short
- Patrick Stewart did not know Sting was a musician.
- He mistook The Police for a police band.
- Sting joined Dune mainly to work with David Lynch.
Explained simply
David Lynch’s Dune is a 1984 film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science-fiction novel, set in a distant future where powerful families compete for control of the desert planet Arrakis. Patrick Stewart played Gurney Halleck, a soldier and musician in the service of House Atreides, while Sting played Feyd-Rautha, a rival family’s dangerous heir.
Sting was already known as the singer and bassist in the British band The Police, whose songs had become popular around the world. He had also acted in films before appearing in Dune, and later said he was drawn to the project by the chance to work with Lynch.
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