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Description
In the mid-1970s, film producer Dino De Laurentiis was determined to bring Flash Gordon to the big screen. Having failed to persuade Sergio Leone to direct the movie, De Laurentiis lost faith in the project and began to explore other options. Enter a French consortium led by Jean-Paul Gibon, who had secured the rights to Frank Herbert's "Dune" but stalled in their attempts to bring Frank Herbert's seminal sci fi classic to the big screen. The two exchanged options- De Laurentiis got Dune and Gibon got Flash Gordon. Alejandro Jodorowsky, known for his surreal and thought-provoking films like "El Topo" and his ambitious but unrealized adaptation of "Dune," was the consortium's visionary choice to helm Flash Gordon.

Jodorowsky's interpretation of Flash Gordon would prove to be a significant departure from the source material. His unique vision brought a more complex and symbolic narrative to the story, creating a visually stunning and intellectually challenging work that struggled to find mainstream success upon initial release but would go on to garner cult status in the years that followed.

Here we see an example of the concept art for Prince Thun, leader of the Lion-Men of Mongo, played by Rutger Hauer in the movie. Hauer initially auditioned for the part of Flash Gordon, but ended up in a supporting role as he was (at the time) largely unknown outside of Dutch cinema.

Created using Midjourney, Leonardo and Krita

Description
In the mid-1970s, film producer Dino De Laurentiis was determined to bring Flash Gordon to the big screen. Having failed to persuade Sergio Leone to direct the movie, De Laurentiis lost faith in the project and began to explore other options. Enter a French consortium led by Jean-Paul Gibon, who had secured the rights to Frank Herbert's "Dune" but stalled in their attempts to bring Frank Herbert's seminal sci fi classic to the big screen. The two exchanged options- De Laurentiis got Dune and Gibon got Flash Gordon. Alejandro Jodorowsky, known for his surreal and thought-provoking films like "El Topo" and his ambitious but unrealized adaptation of "Dune," was the consortium's visionary choice to helm Flash Gordon.

Jodorowsky's interpretation of Flash Gordon would prove to be a significant departure from the source material. His unique vision brought a more complex and symbolic narrative to the story, creating a visually stunning and intellectually challenging work that struggled to find mainstream success upon initial release but would go on to garner cult status in the years that followed.

Here we see an example of the concept art for Prince Thun, leader of the Lion-Men of Mongo, played by Rutger Hauer in the movie. Hauer initially auditioned for the part of Flash Gordon, but ended up in a supporting role as he was (at the time) largely unknown outside of Dutch cinema.

Created using Midjourney, Leonardo and Krita