The Ultimate Guide to Spotting 10 Hidden Dune References & Epic Easter Eggs in Futurama's Season 11 Parody Episode!

WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Futurama season 11, episode 4!

Summary

"Futurama" season 11, episode 4 presents a remarkable parody of "Dune," cleverly infusing the franchise with 10 Easter eggs and references.

Within the episode, the substitution of glitter takes the place of the renowned spice element from "Dune," serving as a means of transportation and acquiring clairvoyance.

The parody episode of Futurama season 11, episode 4 pays homage to Dune with various Easter eggs and references. One of these nods is the inclusion of orange eyes as a side-effect of glitter, resembling the blue eyes associated with spice users in "Dune." In this article, we will explore all 10 Easter eggs and references in the episode, highlighting their significance and connection to the beloved franchise. Some of these Dune jokes are obvious, while others are more subtle and may only be recognized by dedicated fans of the series. Join us as we uncover every Dune nod in Futurama season 11, episode 4 and delve into their meanings and connections with the Dune universe.

10 Glitter Is Spice

Futurama makes its much-anticipated return with season 11, treating fans to a fresh set of episodes for the first time since the show's cancellation in 2013. Known for its witty nods to the science fiction genre, the series celebrates and playfully mocks iconic sci-fi stories and franchises like Star Trek, Star Wars, and more. However, in episode 4 of season 11, Futurama ventures into uncharted territory by presenting its first-ever episode-length parody of Frank Herbert's Dune series, a timely homage given the upcoming film adaptation by Denis Villeneuve. Discover every clever Dune reference in Futurama season 11 right here.

Spice Melange holds significant significance within the Dune franchise as it serves various purposes such as transportation, trade, and granting users clairvoyance and ancestral memories. Given its importance, it's unsurprising that Futurama's Dune parody incorporates this iconic element, although it cleverly replaces spice with shimmering glitter. The episode is set in a sprawling desert located within Nibbler's litter box, where the substitute for spice turns out to be a fragrant glitter used to mask odors.

9 Glitter's Orange Eyes Side-Effect

One notable consequence attributed to the consumption of spice in the Dune series is the alteration of eye color, prominently depicted in the marketing campaigns for the Dune movies. The Fremen community is particularly renowned for possessing distinctive blue eyes, which draws a comical imitation in the television show Futurama. In the 11th season of Futurama, the introduction of glitter brings about a comparable effect of changing eye color, but this time the eyes of the crew members from the Planet Express turn orange. Although no specific explanation is provided for why their eyes become orange rather than blue, the similarity of this side-effect is evident enough to establish the intended reference.

8 The Parasitic Sandworms

The world of Arrakis in the Dune franchise is home to massive sandworms, which pose a significant threat throughout the series. Given the sandworms' iconic status, it's not surprising that they made an appearance in Futurama's parody episode. However, in this particular episode, the sandworms have become parasitic and are responsible for Nibbler's illness. Consequently, the main storyline revolves around the efforts of the Planet Express crew to locate and eliminate these parasitic sandworms. Similar to Dune's sandworms, Futurama's sandworms are extremely sensitive to vibrations caused by footsteps. In fact, the sandworms in Futurama are actually a group of parasites that have huddled together, as shown in season 3's "Parasites Lost."

7 The Ancient Prophecy

Ancient prophecies play a prominent role in the unfolding narrative of Dune, as Frank Herbert's cherished sci-fi series delves into tales and visions of monumental battles and messianic prophecies. Intriguingly, these age-old prophecies also find their way into an episode of Futurama, where the denizens of Nibbler's sandbox place their faith in a prophecy proclaiming Nibbler as their savior against the sandworms. However, it is noteworthy that Futurama does not critique the use of prophecies, in stark contrast to the central theme of Dune, which revolves around the notion of rejecting the notion that prophetic thinking is inherently beneficial.

6 “Dune” Beetles

In Futurama season 11, Nibbler's litter box is inhabited by a group of dung beetles who have established their own society with beetle monarchs and soldiers. While the beetles diligently roll up dung, they amusingly insist that their name is pronounced differently. According to them, the "g" in "dung" is silent, resulting in the creature being called "dune beetles." This clever grammatical twist pays tribute to the franchise that Futurama parodies.

5 The Roachthopter

While Nibbler's sandbox becomes a playground for the Planet Express crew in their search for a mode of transportation, the queen of the dung beetles casually mentions a peculiar vehicle that bears a striking resemblance to Dune. Introducing the roachthopter, a whimsical flying ship fashioned in the shape of a colossal roach, it serves as a playful nod to Dune's ornithopters—an ingenious homage found in Denis Villeneuve's Dune films, where spaceships ingeniously masquerade as dragonflies. This clever roachthopter gag serves as a delightful Easter egg for ardent followers of the Dune series, cleverly woven into the storyline without outstaying its welcome.

4 Dune’s Disgusting Creatures

The litter box in Futurama season 11 is home to a variety of repulsive creatures. These grotesque beings serve as another comedic dig at Dune, where the alien fauna is equally repugnant. Despite their strange and revolting appearances, Dune's creatures successfully capture the essence of uncanny extraterrestrial species, but they are not exempt from Futurama's satirical treatment.

3 All Of The Litter Box’s Inhabitants Use Melee Weapons

When Fry, Bender, Leela, and Zoidberg venture into Nibbler's litter box, they all equip themselves with firearms, ready to defend against the box's residents. Interestingly, the adversaries inside the litter box exclusively utilize swords and other close combat weapons, which considerably simplifies the task for the Planet Express crew. This resemblance is actually a result of the existence of bullet-immune armor in the Dune franchise, rendering melee weapons as the sole viable means of engagement. Unsurprisingly, this minute detail was seamlessly incorporated into Futurama season 11, further showcasing the series' reverence for the beloved franchise.

2 The God Emperor Of Dung

Following their encounter with the parasitic sandworm, the Planet Express crew discovers a surprising revelation: the worms actually form an entire army. During their conversation with the crew, the king of these worms humorously identifies himself as "the god emperor of dung," a clever allusion. This not only references the fourth book, God Emperor of Dune, but also delves deeper into the storyline. In God Emperor of Dune, the central figure is Leto II Atreides, who interestingly transforms into a colossal sandworm.

1 Nibbler Is The True Messiah

The concept of a messiah plays a significant role in the Dune books, to the extent that one of the novels is titled Dune Messiah. This idea is also mentioned in Season 11 of Futurama, where it is prophesied that Nibbler is the true messiah within the litter box. In doing so, Nibbler takes on the same role as Paul Atreides in the books, and the Nibbler prophecy cleverly concludes the Dune parody in Episode 4 of Futurama's 11th season.