For those who have read Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi classic Dune, one of the notable differences between book and film in director Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming film adaptation is that the character of Dr. Liet-Kynes is a man in the novel but a woman in the film, where she is played by British actress Sharon Duncan Brewster.

Kynes is a notable planetologist and environmentalist on the planet of Arrakis in the novel, as well as the father of Chani (Zendaya).

When the rival Harkonnen family attempts to wipe out the Atreides line and grab control of Arrakis and its rich supply of the spice, another side of Kynes’ personality emerges, while young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) develops feelings for Kynes’ daughter, the Fremen fighter Chani.

Duncan-Brewster said when asked by presenter Stephen Colbert about any conversations she had with Villeneuve about the decision, “I think and foremost, as far as Denis was concerned, it was all about concentrating on the essence of this person. Thematically, He’s an integral role. He connects all the dots. He connects the Harkonnens. He connects the House of Atreides. He connects the Fremen, planet Arrakis, sandworms.”

“This is somebody who understands all these worlds and moves in between each and every one, seemingly with one agenda,” added Duncan-Brewster. “However, as things go, we start to understand that there is more game playing or survival or preservation for the good of certain people or individuals or beings.””

So, why did Villeneuve change the gender of the character? The filmmaker and Duncan-Brewster both agreed that it isn’t really necessary for the character. “As far as Denis was concerned, it was all about concentrating on the essence of this person, not the fact that this person was a man, so that’s what we went with first. Then we talked much later about the fact that Kynes was a man. To me and to Denis, it’s arguable and I’m intrigued to see what the fans will make of it. I’m excited to see how it all comes out, because I don’t think it matters that Kynes in the book is a man. I think what’s important is what Kynes stands for, and that’s definitely what Denis stayed true to.”

Duncan-Brewster commented on the gender shift in Vanity Fair’s first glimpse at the new Dune in May, stating, “This human being manages to basically keep the peace amongst many people. Women are very good at that, so why can’t Kynes be a woman? Why shouldn’t Kynes be a woman?”

Denis Villeneuve directs Dune from a script he co-wrote with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts. The film also stars Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh, Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Dr. Liet Kynes, Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, Dave Bautista Glossu Rabban, David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Stephen Henderson as Thufir Hawat, and Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck. The film will be released in cinemas on December 18th.