In 2021, the film adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune reinvigorated interest in the sci-fi epic, shedding new light on the wide range of adaptations that have been created or proposed over the decades. One of those adaptations, Alexander Jodorowsky's visual guide for a never-made film version of the story, was recently purchased for $3 million by an NFT group called Spice DAO.
The group took to Twitter (NYSE: TWTR), explaining their plans for the book, including creating an animated series. There's just one problem: the group purchased a copy of the book, not the creative rights to the property.
In 1974, Jodorowsky began the process of creating his version of a 14-hour film adaptation of Dune, but the project ran out of funding in just two years. During the planning process, Jodorowsky brought on a slew of famous figures, including Pink Floyd, Orson Welles, and Salvador Dali, to contribute, and also commissioned concept art from the legendary French cartoonist, Moebius.
That extensive collection of concept art was combined to make a proposal book for executives, but none chose to fund the project. Altogether, there are between ten and 20 copies of the book, and copies usually sell for between $25,000 and $40,000. The keyword is "usually": now, a copy has been purchased for $3 million.
The copy purchased by the DAO, or decentralized anonymous organization, was put on sale at Christie's auction last November. Despite the appraisal price of $40,000, the Spice group shocked everyone when they submitted their winning $3 million bid, more than 100 times the estimated worth.
Members of the Spice DAO were told that, by investing in the group, they would be given a say in what happens to the book. Those plans announced to the group's Twitter after the acquisition included making the book publicly available, producing a series based on the art, and supporting other "derivative projects from the community". The group also has plans to burn the book as part of an "incredible marketing stunt".
Of course, there are a couple of important facts that the group doesn't mention, perhaps most importantly that the book is already available publicly online. A full archive of Moebius's gorgeous line drawings, sketches, and vibrant art is easily accessible.
While the purchase has received widespread mockery and disdain online, the group's Twitter page continues to post about plans to create some kind of film or series adaptation, occasionally suggesting actors or screenwriters who could contribute.