Dune opened nationwide last fall in the U.S. with a day-and-date release on HBO Max. The picture earned a respectable $41 million atop the domestic box-office in its first three days in the U.S., especially impressive taking the HBO Max release into account. In addition to overall positive reviews and mostly euphoric reception from fans of Frank Herbert’s book, Dune is the highest-grossing film of respected filmmaker Villeneuve’s career. Its final box-office tally rests just above $400 million, especially impressive considering the simultaneous release to HBO Max. The announcement of a sequel was entirely dependent on the first installment being a hit—and now, by any metric, it is. Which is good news, considering that Dune ends rather abruptly on a sequel-beckoning cliffhanger. In October of 2021, Warner Bros. announced a sequel. Here’s everything we know about Dune Part Two right now.
What is the Dune sequel called?
At least for now, the sequel is called Dune Part Two, which we know thanks to franchise star Timothée Chalamet’s eye-popping Twitter announcement, complete with a logo and working title of the film. That tweet has already been liked over half a million times.
What is the Dune Part Two release date?
The follow-up to Dune is slated for a newly announced Oct. 20, 2023 release.
Will Dune Part Two be on HBO Max or in theaters?
Dune Part Two is slated to arrive exclusively to theaters. This is expected, as the cast and Villeneuve were openly critical of Warner’s decision to move their entire 2021 slate (including Dune) to HBO Max day-and-date releases. How long will Dune Part Two be in theaters? That’s unknown. In light of the pandemic and a rapidly changing entertainment landscape, the industry standard for theater exclusivity is about 45 days.
Who is directing Dune Part Two?
Villeneuve is returning as director. The French-Canadian filmmaker’s oeuvre is widely acclaimed, his work on 2016’s Arrival garnered a Best Director Oscar nod, and Dune fans are mostly gaga for what he’s done with the beloved books on screen.
Has filming started on Dune Part Two?
Villeneuve has confirmed the sequel will start shooting by end of summer 2022, leaving just over a year for production and post-production. Of the announcement and imminent release date, Villeneuve told The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s fantastic news, but it’s also kind of a burden… the good news is that a lot of the work has been done already regarding design, casting, locations and writing. So we’re not starting from scratch. It’s not a long period of time, but I will try to face that challenge because it’s important for me that the audience sees Part Two as soon as possible. It’s not a sequel where it’s another episode or another story with the same characters. It actually has direct continuity to the first movie. It’s the second part of the big huge movie that I’m trying to do. So the sooner the better.”
Who is in the cast of Dune Part Two?
No new castings have been announced at this time, but we do know who will be returning from the first film: Chalamet as Paul, Zendayaas Paul’s Fremen love interest Chani, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, and scene-stealing Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (a makeup and practical effects marvel). The latest major casting news is the addition of Florence Pugh, Princess Irulan Corrino..The Oscar-nominated star of Little Women and Midsommar is certainly keeping busy. She was also announced as part of the voice cast of forthcoming Puss in Boots 2. The key forthcoming Dune Part Two casting news will be who’s to play big bad Emperor Shaddam IV, who’s only mentioned in the first film.
What will be the plot of Dune Part Two?
The first film ended as Paul is accepted to the Fremen, joining them on their journey through Arrakis. Part Two will see Zendaya’s Chani become a co-protagonist. As the journey continues, Paul rises in the ranks among the Fremen, assists in the rebellion against the Emperor, has multiple potential love interests—and this is maybe the most exciting part of all for us—Paul is definitely going to ride a sandworm. It’s certainly worth noting that the source material becomes less conventional, more challenging, one could even say less crowd-pleasing but more provocative and relevant as it goes along. Herbert’s books are full of shocking twists that we won’t give away here, but expect to have your draw drop at least a time or two during the upcoming film.
What is Dune about, and why is it so popular?
Herbert’s series is about a feudal society in the distant future, and intergalactic power struggles and a fight for resources, notably “spice” from the planet Arrakis. Like the expanded universe of J.R.R. Tolkien, Dune has been hailed as a masterclass in world-building and far-reaching high-fantasy storytelling. Villeneuve’s film has been well-received by most critics and audience members—perhaps most of all by hardcore fans of the source material. Dune was once adapted for the big screen in 1984 by David Lynch (a financial and critical disaster) and for TV in 2000 (slightly better received but hardly a classic).
Will there be a third Dune movie?
There’s been no official announcement of Dune Part Three, but it seems highly plausible at this point. Herbert’s books become more and more plot-heavy and metaphysical as they go along. If anyone can make the infamously tricky material, it’s Denis Villeneuve. He’s absolutely deserving of another Best Director Oscar nod for Dune. Dune is now on HBO Max. It received 10 Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Next, check out the 101 best science fiction movies of all time, ranked.
