Your return trip to Arrakis draws near.
2021's Dune, Denis Villeneuve's Oscar-winning adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic, followed Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and the House of Atreides as they took over the spice trade on the desert planet of Arrakis — better known as "Dune." But when the royal family is betrayed by the villainous House Harkonnen, Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), are forced to flee into the sandworm-infested wastelands.
There, they meet the native people of Arrakis, called the Fremen, who have harnessed the power of the desert. Dune ended with Zendaya's Chani telling Paul, "This is only the beginning..." And as Villeneuve himself told A.frame, "Part Two is where the fun begins."
The first film received a total of 10 nominations at the 94th Oscars, including Best Picture, and won six: Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.
Ahead of the sequel's release, here is everything you need to know about Dune: Part Two.
What is 'Dune: Part Two' about?
Dune: Part Two will pick up where Dune left off — with Paul joining the Fremen. As he ascends their ranks, he will prepare to wage war against the Harkonnen. Assuming the movie doesn't stray far from Herbert's novel, Part Two should also explore more about Paul's gifts of foresight as he embraces his destiny as the Kwisatz Haderach.
Here is the official synopsis:
'Dune: Part Two' 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.
"The second part of the story is definitely more cinematic, so there's numbers of scenes that I can't wait to attack," Villeneuve told A.frame. "That's my favorite part of the book, so it's going to be a lot of fun, and I'm deeply inspired... What will be interesting is how to make sure we don't repeat ourselves."
Is there a trailer?
Yes, and you can watch it now:
When does the movie come out?
Dune: Part Two will open in theaters on March 1, 2024.
The movie was originally slated for Nov. 3, 2023, but Warner Bros. and Legendary postponed its release due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. That second release date — March 15, 2024 — was eventually also changed, when the studios decided to move the release up by two weeks.
Which cast members are returning from 'Part One'?
Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, and Ferguson as Lady Jessica. Likewise, Javier Bardem is back as Stilgar, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Harkonnen, Dave Bautista as Count Glossu Rabban, Stephen McKinley Henderson as Thufir Hawat, and Charlotte Rampling as Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother Mohiam.
Villeneuve also promised that Part Two will feature significantly more Zendaya. "I had so much fun working with her [on Part One] that I decided to add more days and started to improvise things with her," he told A.frame. "I think she's really a mesmerizing and really magnetic presence on camera.”
What actors are joining the cast for 'Part Two'?
Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV: The Oscar-winning actor (The Deer Hunter) plays the Emperor of the Known Universe, who sent House Atreides to Arrakis in order to cause their downfall.
Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan Corrino: Pugh (an Oscar nominee for Little Women) stars as the eldest daughter of the emperor and a love interest for Paul.
Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen: Butler (an Oscar nominee for Elvis) plays the sadistic Harkonnen prince and heir to the family's empire, and thus an antagonist to Chalamet's Paul. The role was previously played by Sting in David Lynch's 1984 Dune.
Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot: Seydoux plays a member of the Bene Gesserit, whose loyalties are tested as she finds herself living amongst the royal families.
Souheila Yacoub as Shishakli: The Swiss actress, who broke out in Gaspar Noé's Climax, plays a Fremen squad leader who, in the book, assists Paul in learning to ride the sandworms.
Who's behind the scenes?
Villeneuve will return to direct Dune: Part Two, which he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts. (Villeneuve and Spaihts co-wrote Dune with Oscar winner Eric Roth, and the trio received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for their work.)
"I'm working mostly with the same crew, so it is like going back to revisit old friends," the filmmaker previously told A.frame. Those friends include cinematographer Greig Fraser, composer Hans Zimmer, film editor Joe Walker, production designer Patrice Vermette, and special effects supervisor Paul Lambert — all of whom won Oscars for their work on Dune.
Dune: Part Two is produced by Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Denis Villeneuve, Tanya Lapointe and Patrick McCormick. The executive producers are Josh Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, and Kim Herbert, with Kevin J. Anderson serving as a creative consultant.
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