After seeing Dune: Part One, all you’ll want to do is see Dune 2, but will it happen?
It has already made $129.7 million worldwide thanks to Denis Villeneuve’s epic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s landmark novel, and with the UK and US releases officially started, expectations are high that it will do well enough to convince Warner Bros. to produce a sequel to the film.
The studio’s word sounds encouraging, but because Dune: Part Two has yet to be confirmed, it’s best not to get our hopes up just yet.
“Is Dune going to get a sequel? See the movie to find out what happens in the end. That’s a question I believe you already know the answer to “According to Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO of WarnerMedia Studios and Networks, in October 2021, she told Deadline.
Nevertheless, it’s a promising start for Villeneuve’s Dune: Part One, and we can only hope that he returns to Arrakis to finish the project. He’s even thinking about making a trilogy out of it, with a film based on Herbert’s Dune Messiah sequel as the third entry.
While we wait for more information about Dune 2, let’s take a look at what we know so far. Also, be forewarned: there will be Dune spoilers following.
When can we expect the sequel to Dune to arrive?
The studio agreed to Villeneuve’s two-movie adaptation of Dune, but no confirmation has been given that Part Two will take place, therefore there is no set release date for the film just yet.
Though Warner Bros followed the same strategy with the latest film adaptation of Stephen King’s It, there should be no cause for concern. The only problem with this is it means that a lot depends on how well the first movie does at the box office.
Villeneuve has already made it clear that he dislikes the movie being shown on HBO Max at the same time in the United States, citing the possibility that it may hurt the film’s domestic box office performance. However, according to Variety, the number of people who watched it on the streaming site will also be considered.
As previously said, the film has a solid start at the box office, and if that trend continues, anticipation for a sequel must be high. That being the case, Villeneuve will be ready to leave very shortly.
“I’d be ready to travel in a heartbeat. If you want a large-budget film to run swiftly, you’ll need to construct sets and costumes, so plan on months “He went on to clarify.
“The movie will be ready to shoot in 2022 if there’s interest and it’s given the green light sooner rather than later. In other words, I’m ready to go, and I’d like to see it on television as soon as possible.”
Before the film started doing well at the box office, Villeneuve stated to Total Film in August 2021 that he’d already started scripting the sequel and seemed optimistic about getting it filmed.
“Everyone at Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures is fully committed to the effort. They believe that only a disastrous box office result would prevent a sequel to Dune: Part One from being made “he observed, concluding
As a result, if the sequel is confirmed and begins filming in 2022, it’s possible that it will be released in theaters in 2023. The first picture will be shot from March to July of this year, with a release date of November 2020 originally planned.
Even though it’s all speculation at this point because so much depends on how huge the project will be and when exactly filming will begin, a release date of late 2023 isn’t impossible. Surely Warner Bros. would want a sequel sooner rather than later if they so desired.
Villeneuve, on the other hand, told Nerdist that he won’t rush things: “[With] the first film, I had the luxury of time to fine-tune every detail to my liking. And I want to feel the same way about the sequel when it’s finished.”
Some people may be miffed that the second film wasn’t shot concurrently with the first one, but director Peter Jackson was happy to get a break from filming back-to-back.
“I’d have been too worn out to participate. When it came to the first one, I had to use every ounce of energy I had. Doing both desert shoots back-to-back would have been exhausting “According to Villeneuve, who spoke to GamesRadar,
Who will return for the sequel to Dune?
If you haven’t seen Dune: Part One yet, this is your last chance to avoid spoilers. So turn away now.
While we wait for official confirmation, we know that Timothée Chalamet will return as Paul Atreides, and his co-star Zendaya will play Chani in the sequel.
Because Paul and Chani had finally met at the end of the first film, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that their relationship will play a major role in the sequel, according to Villeneuve.
Baron Harkonnen, played by Stellan Skarsgrd, and his nephew Glossu Rabban, played by Dave Bautista, will also make a comeback. Rebecca Ferguson will reprise her role as Lady Jessica.
The actors that played Duke Leto Atreides, Duncan Idaho, and Jamis in the first film were all killed out during the events of the sequel, so don’t expect to see them again.
There’s a chance Momoa will return as Duncan Idaho in the future of the film series, so who knows? Maybe Villeneuve will find a way to incorporate that plot point into the sequel?
There was no way to tell what would happen to Josh Brolin’s Gurney Halleck and Steven Mckinley-Thufir Henderson’s Hawat if House Harkonnen had won the war. Again, book readers will be aware of what transpired, but for the time being, spoilers will not be provided.
As well as meeting Feyd-Rautha, the Baron’s other nephew (who was played by Sting in the 1984 film), and the Emperor himself, we can expect to see some new faces in the cast.
When asked if he was interested in returning, Chalamet responded with a resounding “hell yeah,” and Ferguson joked that she would drop everything to be a part of it, assuming a sequel is confirmed.
What will happen in Part Two of the Dune saga?
Paul and Lady Jessica had been admitted into the Fremen and were on their way to Stilgar’s house when the first movie ended, covering slightly over half of Herbert’s book.
There is no doubt that Paul’s fantasies of himself leading a rebellion against Imperial rule will come to fruition in the sequel now that House Atreides has been decimated by the first battle against the empire.
This time around, assuming Villeneuve stays true to his original adaptation’s plot points, viewers may expect to see a time jump, the introduction of new characters, and some shocking revelations that would be unfair to reveal to anyone who haven’t read the book.
In terms of setting up the universe, the first half has a lot of work to do, as we discussed in our review. Villeneuve referred to laying the basis for the first film as a “difficult assignment,” but now that it’s done, the sequel will be “an insane playground.”
My creativity will soar because of it. Prior to the international debut, he told Nerdist, “Dune: Part One is like an appetizer and Dune: Part Two is the main course.”
Despite the fact that Dune: Part One was by far my most thrilling project to date, just thinking about Dune: Part Two is making me even more giddy. So, that’s it for now.
There were thrilling hints for what was to come in Paul’s future as he battled his ultimate destiny, one that may be linked to Chani and Arrakis’ Fremen in the first movie thanks to Paul’s prophetic abilities.
This might not be the end of Herbert’s Dune saga; Villeneuve is already considering adapting Herbert’s Dune Messiah into a film. His plans haven’t yet become too ambitious, however.
Dune Messiah isn’t on his mind right now, he said to Nerdist. “I’m concentrating on the release of Dune: Part One, hoping that there will be a Part Two.”
Is there a Dune Part Two trailer out yet?
There’s no Dune: Part Two footage yet, which isn’t surprising considering the sequel hasn’t yet been officially announced or begun filming. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience.
As of today, Dune is accessible to view in the US on HBO Max as well as in theaters.