‘Dune 2’ Is ‘More of an Action Movie,’ Says Denis Villeneuve: ‘The First Movie Was More Meditative,’ but the Sequel Is ‘More Muscular’

Zack Sharf
·2 min read
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Any movie fan who thought “Dune” was lacking on the action front will be happy with the upcoming sequel, at least according to director Denis Villeneuve. In a new interview with Total Film magazine, Villeneuve touted the 2024 sequel as “more muscular” than the first installment that hit theaters and Max in 2021.

“The first movie was more meditative and contemplative. We were following a young man discovering a new planet, a new culture,” Villeneuve said. “The second movie…it’s more of an action film than the first part. It’s more muscular.”

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“Dune: Part Two” will definitely look more muscular than the first movie because the entirety of it was shot using IMAX cameras, as opposed to the 35-40% of footage that was shot on IMAX for “Part One.” The original grossed $402 million at the worldwide box office and earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including best picture. It won the Oscars for original score, sound, film editing, cinematography, production design and visual effects.

Villeneuve’s original “Dune” cast members Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling and Javier Bardem are all back for the second chapter. Newcomers to the franchise include Christopher Walken, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux.

The official “Dune: Part Two” synopsis from Warner Bros. and Legendary reads: “This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.”

In a recent interview with Empire, Villeneuve shared his hopes for a third installment in the sci-fi epic film series, saying, “If I succeed in making a trilogy, that would be the dream.”

On his “Dune: Part Three” progress, Villeneuve teased, “I will say, there are words on paper.” The project would be based on “Dune Messiah,” the direct sequel to “Dune” author Frank Herbert’s 1965 original novel.

Warner Bros. and Legendary recently bumped up the “Dune: Part Two” release date to March 1, 2023. The sequel was originally set to open on Nov. 3, but it was pushed to March 15, 2024, amid the Hollywood strikes so that the cast could promote the film. The new date is two weeks earlier.

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