What ‘Dune’ is about and why you should care about the new movie starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya

• The trailer for “Dune” premiered on Wednesday, and fans were quick to express their excitement for the movie on social media. 
• But for those who weren’t familiar with Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel (or David Lynch’s notorious 1984 adaptation), here’s what makes “Dune” so great. 
• The storyline is epic and ambitious, and the settings rival those of “Game of Thrones” or “Lord of the Rings.” 
• At the core of “Dune,” however, is a classic coming-of-age story involving young Paul Atreides as he defends his family from their enemies. 
• ‘Dune’ isn’t a perfect film, but here’s why you should be excited to see it come December.
• Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Set on far-away planets in the distant future, “Dune” is a sci-fi fantasy epic that rivals “Game of Thrones” or “The Lord of the Rings.” 

Based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, “Dune” has been made into a movie in 1984 and a miniseries in 2000. Now, another adaptation — starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, and more — is set to premiere in December. 

Longtime fans of the “Dune” novels and the (admittedly campy) 1984 adaptation are excited to see how director Denis Villeneuve brings this iconic story to life in his upcoming film. 

And while “Dune” isn’t a perfect story, here’s why you shouldn’t overlook this awe-inspiring and enthralling epic. 

‘Dune’ focuses on the Atreides family as they try to survive on a new hostile planet

The Atreides family are the rulers of the ocean planet Caladan, and “Dune” begins with patriarch Duke Leto (Isaac) receiving an assignment from the Emperor to relocate to Arrakis — a dangerous desert planet. 

Once on Arrakis, Leto and the rest of his family take over mining of melange, or “spice,” a mysterious substance that prolongs human life and enhances cognitive abilities.

Joining the Atreides on Arrakis are Duncan Idaho (Momoa) and Gurney Hallack (Brolin), two fierce fighters helping to train Leto’s son Paul (Chalamet) in battle. 

But unfortunately for the Atreides family, they’re betrayed by one of their own soon after their arrival on Arrakis, and Paul and his mother, the Bene Gesserit witch Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) are left to fend for themselves. 

Eventually, Paul and Jessica come into contact with the Fremen, a group of people native to Arrakis. Paul learns more about his heritage and psychic abilities, and even meets his love interest, a Fremen woman named Chani (Zendaya.) 

The remaining members of the Atreides family soon join forces with the Fremen to take back Arrakis and avenge their family. 

Understanding the planets, customs, and people of ‘Dune’ can be daunting, but at its core, it’s a coming-of-age story

Bene Genneserits, the Kwisatz Haderach, gom jabbars, and Arrakis — much like any sci-fi story, the names of people and places in “Dune” can take some getting used to.

There are also complicated interplanetary politics at play involving House Atreides, their rivals, the Harkonnens, and the Padishah Emperor Shaddam. 

But at the center of “Dune” is a coming-of-age story involving Paul, the young son of Duke Leto who’s forced to fight for his life and his family after a terrible betrayal on Arrakis. 

Throughout “Dune,” Paul grows from a naive young nobleman into the all-powerful Kwisatz Haderach — the messiah of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood who’s thought to see both the future and the past. Along the way, he also meets his love interest, Chani, and becomes a skilled fighter and soldier, even planning revenge on the Harkonnens. 

Strip away the sci-fi trappings, and “Dune” is just a classic coming-of-age story — albeit one set on a distant planet in the future.