‘Dune: Part Two’ Will Have Epic Battles and Romance

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Warning: the following contains spoilers for the first Dune film.

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is not the first attempt to bring Frank Herbert’s novel to life. After a failed attempt in 1973, director Alejandro Jodorowsky tried his hand at an adaptation, which resulted in a phonebook-sized script, a potential 14-hour long runtime, and, ultimately, another failure to launch. It then went to Ridley Scott. And then to David Lynch, where it was finally adapted, uninspiringly, in 1984.

Scott had abandoned the project reportedly after finding the storyline to be too large for a single film. This insight would prove portentous for Lynch’s attempt at a single movie. The only decent adaptation before Villeneuve’s attempt remains a three-part miniseries in 2000. The lesson learned is clear: to adapt Dune, you’re gonna need a bigger boat.

Villeneuve, well aware of this fact, has long spoken of his recent Dune adaptation as only part 1 of a larger project. Initially, the filmmaker wanted to shoot the entire story at once, editing into two installments only after filming. In an interview with Variety, he discussed the intention: “I wanted at the beginning to do the two parts simultaneously. For several reasons, it didn’t happen, and I agreed to the challenge of making part one and then wait to see if the movie rings enough enthusiasm.”

Instead of shooting double the material, Villeneuve had to film one movie and then await approval for the next. Because the follow-up was never guaranteed, Villeneuve inherited the added pressure of making Dune complete in itself—in case Dune 2, like so many other Dune projects, failed to take off.

“As I was doing the first part, I really put all my passion into it, in case it would be the only one,” he said. “But I’m optimistic.”

His optimism has proved to be well-founded. Less than a week after its premiere, Dune was been officially green lit for a sequel. In a statement, Villeneuve shared his appreciation. “I just received news from Legendary that we are officially moving forward with Dune: Part Two. It was a dream of mine to adapt Frank Herbert’s Dune and I have the fans, the cast, and crew, Legendary and Warner Bros. to thank for supporting this dream. This is only the beginning.”

What are early reviews saying about Dune 2?

If you had any reservations about whether or not to watch Dune 2 (after seeing Dune, of course), early reviews aren't just positive; they're glowing.

And in its review, Variety called the film "epic."

That's got to be convincing enough for any unsure sci-fi fan.

When is Dune 2 coming out?

Dune: Part Two will hit theaters on March 1, 2024. The movie was originally slated for 2023, but was delayed due to the Hollywood strikes, which have since ended.

The budget for the first film was $165 million, which seems astronomical but is, in fact, far less than most recent Marvel and Disney films. (The budget for Avengers: Infinity War was over $300 million.) Expect an even bigger price tag for Dune 2, which should prove to be an even bigger movie.

What will Dune 2 be about?

Dune leaves us on Arrakis, just over halfway through the events depicted in Herbert’s first novel.

The good news for action fans is that the first part of Herbert’s novel—replete with invasions, battles to the death, and sandworm “Red Light, Green Light”—is maybe the slowest part of the novel. The second half describes action on an Avengers x Lord of the Rings scale.

And finally, we have a trailer to key us in to how Villeneuve plans to make that second half a reality.

The film will show Paul Atreides' rise to power, his battle against the Harkonnens, and his mother's transformation into a Reverend Mother. If you thought the first film had some "wow" moments, you've seen nothing yet. The second half of the first Dune book includes major fights and political machinations that echo throughout the rest of the series.

Joining the cast from the first film (Chalamet, Ferguson) are two notable additions: Austin Butler and Florence Pugh. Butler will play Feyd-Rautha, the heir to the Harkonnen throne and a vicious warrior. While Pugh will play the heir to House Corrino, who Paul will later meet.

Is there a trailer?

Yes! It doesn't reveal too much about the story, so it's relatively spoiler-free if you haven't read the books yet.

Can we expect a Dune 3?

Villeneuve has never ruled out the possibility of Dune turning into a trilogy. With no shortage of source material—Herbert himself wrote several novels in the Dune universe—the director could stay busy for years; Dune: Part Two will only wrap up the first novel. Villeneuve explained what might come next. “There is Dune’s second book, The Messiah of Dune, which could make an extraordinary film. I always saw that there could be a trilogy; after that, we’ll see. It’s years of work; I can’t think of going further than that.”

Any successive Dune film will benefit from the groundwork laid in Villeneuve’s first work, which carried the pressure of introducing an entirely new world to many viewers. The film’s reviews and box office numbers suggest audiences are on board. If the next film is as massive as Villeneuve predicts, it’s possible Dune Messiah will inform the final installment of a trilogy, wrapping up the saga of Paul Atreides.

The Dune universe is certainly big enough to go even farther, as the novels—written both by Herbert and continued by his son, Brian Herbert, alongside Kevin J. Anderson—span thousands of years.

And we know we’re getting at least one spinoff.

What About that Dune TV Show?

Even before Dune finished filming, WarnerMedia ordered Dune: The Sisterhood, a television series focusing on the Bene Gesserit, an order of women who possess telekinetic-like power and act as puppeteers and kingmakers in the universe's political orders.

Villeneuve will reportedly direct the first episode.

“The Bene Gesserit have always been fascinating to me,” he said in an interview with Variety. “Focusing a series around that powerful order of women seemed not only relevant and inspiring but a dynamic setting for the television series.”

The series isn't expected until fall 2024. It will premiere on Max.

You Might Also Like

• The Best Hair Growth Shampoos for Men to Buy Now

• 25 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein