I.C.Y.M.I.: First Look at 'Dune' 2020, 'One World: Together at Home' Concert, New Fiona Apple Album & More

Greetings, fellow pop culture aficionados, and welcome to week 10 (we've finally hit double digits!) of our I.C.Y.M.I. (In Case You Missed It) blog series. Our museum may be temporarily closed to visitors based on guidance from public health officials to slow the spread of coronavirus, but we're still here to recap a handful of trending tidbits from the past week in popular culture, in case you missed them.

Last Friday, we showcased news from a certain Netflix series that fans have been devouring. This week, we begin on the big screen in the sci-fi world, taking a look at new content from the highly-anticipated December 2020 release of Dune, a film based on the 1965 novel from Frank Herbert, a member of the Museum of Pop Culture's Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

First Look at Dune 2020

Earlier this week, a slew of spicy images from the new Dune film were unveiled by Vanity Fair, which showcase its star-studded cast in action on the desert-planet Arrakis—shot in remote regions outside Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet, who plays Dune's primary protagonist Paul Atreides, is joined on set by Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, and more.

Scheduled to hit theaters December 18, 2020, Dune—directed by Denis Villeneuve—will feature one half of the novel. Production company Warner Bros. has agreed to use two films to tell the full story.

“I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie,” Villeneuve tells Vanity Fair. “The world is too complex. It’s a world that takes its power in details.”

There's no trailer for the newest Dune yet, but pop culture fans seeking more background on the franchise have multiple mediums to seek out. There's the original book from 1965, the original film from 1984, a television miniseries adapted in 2000, and even a series of Dune comics and graphic novels. While it may not feel this way after digesting those delicious screen grabs from Vanity Fair, there should hopefully be plenty of Dune content out there to hold you over until the film releases in December (or at least until the trailer drops). Plus, when MoPOP reopens, we have a handful of Dune artifacts on display that we'd love to have you come check out. 

'One World: Together at Home'

This Saturday, April 18, a massive concert titled 'One World: Together at Home' will air across all NBC networks, ABC, ViacomCBS Networks, The CW and iHeartMedia channels. Produced by Global Citizen and held in support of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, the evening—curated by Lady Gaga—features a long list of performers, including Lizzo, John Legend, Eddie Vedder, Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, and many, many more (really, there's a lot of performers scheduled). Hosted by late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, the event begins at 5 p.m. PT.

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Singer-songwriter Fiona Apple has released her first album in eight years. Fetch the Bolt Cutters dropped Friday and, thus far, the reviews are incredible. Pitchfork labels it an "unyielding masterpiece," Vulture gives it perfect 10s across the board, and Rolling Stone calls it "a triumphant statement of self-discovery and solidarity." Listen to the title track in the YouTube video embedded above and, if it piques your interest, give the full album a listen on Spotify.

What Else To Watch/Do/Catch Up On This Weekend

• This past week, April 15 marked National Anime Day, and Nerdist put together a list of the best '90s anime to stream for every mood (big Dragon Ball Z fan over here)
• A handful of zoos—and aquariums, too—are making live streams of their animals available to watch from home
• And while there won't be a new episode this week, Saturday Night Live ran an at-home edition that is certainly worth a watch (or re-watch)

What'd We Miss?

Now that we've filled you in on a few things, what do you feel we failed to mention? Let us know in the comments, or hit us up with a suggestion on Twitter @MoPOPSeattle. We'll look to include your ideas in our next edition of I.C.Y.M.I.

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