How the Film Will Differ From Its Predecessor
In 2021, director Denis Villeneuve released Dune, a cinematic masterpiece that won six Academy Awards. The film is based on Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name and follows the noble House Atreides, led by Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), as they travel to the planet Arrakis at the Emperor’s request. However, they become embroiled in a bloody conflict with the previous rulers of the planet, the House Harkonnen. The first film did an excellent job of setting the stage by introducing viewers to the world of Dune, including the importance of Spice, the Fremen, and their culture.
With its critical and commercial success, it may be hard to imagine that Dune: Part Two will surpass it. However, with Denis Villeneuve at the helm, we can expect subtle variations between the sequel and the first movie, making it highly probable. The first film barely covered two-thirds of Herbert’s book, and the sequel will cover much more ground. There are many matters that need to be addressed in the sequel, such as the Emperor’s revelation and the Harkonnen planet, which gives a purpose to expand the world further.
Jacqueline West, the costume designer of Dune: Part Two, spoke with Deadline about how the sequel’s world-building will differ from the first. She said, “In ‘Part Two,’ you really dive into the different worlds of ‘Dune.’ We see what the Emperor’s world looks like. We go to his planet. We spend a lot of time on Giedi Prime, the Harkonnen planet. We spend a lot of time in Stellan Skarsgård’s [Vladimir Harkonnen] world. All the worlds get expanded.”
In the first film, Paul Atreides was still learning to survive in the world of Dune, whereas in the sequel, he will become a leader and Arrakis’ savior. He will have to become a Fremen leader to raise an army and mature as a fighter and person to deal with looming issues. Dune: Part Two will be the main course, loaded with epic moments that the prequel couldn’t fit within its time frame, including the introduction of a new character, Feyd Rautha (Austin Butler), who will emerge as the main antagonist.
Denis Villeneuve has stated that while 40% of the previous film was shot in Imax, 100% of Dune: Part Two was shot in that format, making it an even more demanding project. The director also revealed what sets Dune 2 apart from its predecessor. In his words: “Part One is more of a contemplative movie. Part Two is an action-packed, epic war movie. It is much more dense. We went to all-new locations. I didn’t want a feeling of repetition. It’s all new sets. Everything is new.”
Dune: Part Two will serve as the finale of the first book, so it makes sense to expand the scope of the sequel’s world while improving on aspects such as pace, story, and action. While no more sequels have been confirmed, a prequel spinoff series, Dune: Sisterhood, is already in the works and will focus on the origins of Bene Gesserit.
In conclusion, Dune: Part Two is highly anticipated, and fans can expect an epic and action-packed film that expands the world of Dune even further. The film opens on November 3, 2023, and is sure to be a cinematic masterpiece.
Dunereleased in 2021 and directed by Denis Villeneuve, was a cinematic masterpiece, and its six Academy Awards spoke for themselves. The film is based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel of the same name and tells the story of the noble House Atreides, led by Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), who travel to the planet Arrakis at the Emperor’s behest but find themselves embroiled in a bloody conflict with the previous rulers of Arrakis, the House Harkonnen.
The first film did an excellent job setting the stage by presenting the world of Dunehow Spice rules it, and the Fremen and their culture. Since it was such a critical and commercial success, it may not be easy to think that Dune: Part Two will outperform it. However, it’s highly probable, especially with Denis Villeneuve at the helm, and we should expect a lot of subtle variations between the sequel and the first movie.
The World of Dune Expands Even Further
It may seem difficult to believe, but the first film, Dunebarely covered two-thirds of Frank Herbert’s book. The first book in the Dune series was divided into three parts: Dune, Muadiband the Prophet. Dune ended with Paul Atreides fighting Jamis (Babs Olusanmokun), a Fremen who did not welcome their presence. According to the books, the film was just halfway through Muadibimplying that the sequel would cover much more ground.
Furthermore, plenty of matters need to be addressed in the sequel, from the Emperor’s revelation to the Harkonnen planet, and it certainly gives a purpose to expand the world even further. During a masterclass for Qatar’s Doha Film Institute, Jacqueline West, the costume designer of Dune: Part Two, spoke with Deadline about how the sequel’s world-building will differ from the first. She said,
“In ‘Part Two,’ you really dive into the different worlds of ‘Dune.’ We see what the Emperor’s world looks like. We go to his planet. We spend a lot of time on Giedi Prime, the Harkonnen planet. We spend a lot of time in Stellan Skarsgård’s [Vladimir Harkonnen] world. All the worlds get expanded. It was about creating three separate, different-looking worlds and also revisiting the Bene Gesserits, the age-old ones with these costumes that almost look like Egyptian mummies. I think it’s visually stunning, the sets, the cinematography, and the concepts.”
Paul Atreides’ Evolution
Until the final confrontation of Duneno one knew if Paul Atreides could fight skilled opponents as he was always protected by warriors like Duncan (Jason Momoa) and Gurney (Josh Brolin). However, he stunned every viewer by engaging in a one-sided fight with a skilled Fremen fighter and even killing him without difficulty. Regardless, that wasn’t enough to face a formidable foe like the House Harkonnen.
Thus, Paul will have to become a Fremen leader if he wants to raise an army as well as mature as a fighter and person in order to deal with looming issues. In the first film, he was like a student still learning to survive in the world of Dunewhere betrayal could bring down an entire house overnight, whereas, in the sequel, he will become something more—a leader and Arrakis’ savior.
Dune: Part Two Will Be Epic
When we said that the first movie served merely to introduce viewers to the world of Dune as well as lay the groundwork for the sequel, we weren’t exaggerating. There is no reason to doubt that the first film was phenomenal, yet, the main confrontations, story, and twists will occur in Dune: Part Two.
In some ways, Dune was an ‘appetizer,’ but Dune: Part Two will be the ‘main course,’ loaded with epic moments that the prequel couldn’t fit within its time frame. As seen in the trailer, we see Paul Atreides riding a Sandworm, which was supposed to be dangerous for people who walked in Arrakis’ dunes, and even leading the entire Fremen army by himself for a fitting fight to the conclusion of Dune: Part Two.
Furthermore, with the introduction of a new character, Feyd Rautha (Austin Butler), who is said to be ruthless and will emerge as the main antagonist in Dune: Part Twothe story becomes even more intense, paving the way for more epic clashes between the savior of Arrakis and the destroyer of houses.
The filmmaker, Denis Villeneuve, has stated that while 40% of the previous film was shot in Imax, 100% of Dune: Part Two was shot in that format, making it an even more demanding project. The director also revealed what sets Dune 2 apart from its predecessor before the release of its trailer. In his words:
“Part One is more of a contemplative movie. Part Two is an action-packed, epic war movie. It is much more dense. We went to all-new locations. I didn’t want a feeling of repetition. It’s all new sets. Everything is new.”
Given that Dune: Part Two will serve as the finale of the first book, it makes sense to expand the scope of the sequel’s world while improving on aspects such as pace, story, and action. While no more sequels have been confirmed, a prequel spinoff series, Dune: Sisterhoodis already in the works and will be set a thousand years before Dunefocusing on the origins of Bene Gesserit.
Dune: Part Two opens on November 3, 2023.
